Assignment 1(submission deadline: by Nov.

18)
1. A low-rise building of flat roof is subjected to a typhoon. The maximum wind speed of
the typhoon is 40m/s. There are openings at the surfaces of the building. The pressure
coefficients and the corresponding areas of the openings are shown in Fig. Q1. Determine
the internal pressure coefficients and hence the lift force at the roof given that the area of
the roof is 20mx20m. Density of air=1.23kg/m3
Roof
Cpe2= -1.2, A2=1m2

Cpe1=1.0, A1=3m2

Cpi1
A5=0.5m2

Cpe3= -0.5, A3=0.5m2

u=40m/s
Cpi2

Cpe4= -0.4, A4=0.5m2

Fig. Q1
2. A concrete house of 10m height and cross-section area 10x10m is to be constructed on the
top of an escarpment as shown in Fig. Q2. Determine the design wind load of the house
using the Hong Kong Wind Code. Explain why there is a wind speed increase for wind
blowing uphill.
house
wind

30m
10m
20o

30o

20m

Fig. Q2

50m

3. A wind tunnel test has been carried out to determine the wind induced pressure and
force on a building of width 30m, height 100m and under the 50 yr extreme wind speed
of 59.5m/s. Dimensional analysis shows that
b d Vh
b d Vh
C p p , ,
; C F F , ,

h h
h h
where Cp=pressure coefficient, CF=force coefficient, h=height, b=width, d=depth,
V=velocity, =kinematic viscosity of air = 1.46x10-5 m2/s. The geometric scale ratio is
1:400 (model to prototype) and a velocity 10m/s is used in the wind tunnel. Determine
the Reynolds number in the model and in the prototype conditions. Explain why
Reynolds number similarity is not required. Hence determine the pressure coefficient at a
particular point and the building and force coefficient of the building if the pressure and
force measured in the model is 50N/m2 and 1.5N. The same fluid (air) is used in the wind
tunnel and the density of air=1.23kg/m3.

Assignment 2 (submission deadline: by Nov. 29)

1. A subdivision development of area 0.1km2 is built on gently sloping land. The average
slope of the land is 0.001. The length of the longest natural flow path is 500m.
A pipeline 1000m long with friction coefficient f=0.03 is connected to the outlet of the
natural flow path and drains the storm water to the sea. 10 straight rectangular manholes
with energy loss coefficient k=0.1 are used as junction boxes. The sea level is 2m below
the ground level.
i)Determine the 50yr design discharge for the subdivision using the rational method. The
average runoff coefficient of the subdivision is 0.8. The 50-yr rainfall intensity I can be
calculated from i(mm/hr)=a/(td+b)c, where a=687, b=4.2, c=0.42, td(min)=duration.
ii)Determine the size of the pipeline such that no flooding will occur.
2. A steep road in Hong Kong is with normal bituminous wearing course, longitudinal
bed slope S0 =10%, drained width 6m and crossfall Sc =3%. Gullies are installed on the
road to collect stormwater. Determine the gully spacing required if the interception
efficiency of the gullies is 40%. The allowable flood width of the road is 0.7m, and the
rainfall intensity is 120mm/h. The Mannings n is 0.013, and the blockage factor is
assumed zero.
At the ultimate state condition the rainfall intensity is 270mm/h. If the gully interception
efficiency is reduced to 20%, what is then the flood width and flow depth? Note the gully
spacing has already been fixed.

3. Determine the maximum discharge of a 0.75m x 0.75m concrete box culvert (f=0.025)
with round entrance (Ke=0.2) if the culvert slope is 0.005, the length is 5m, the headwater
level is 1.2m above the inlet bottom invert level, and the tailwater level is 1m above the
outlet bottom invert level of the box culvert.
Determine the tailwater level if the box culvert is operated under the inlet control
condition. What is then the discharge?