Mode shape corrections for

wind tunnel tests of tall

buildings
Y. L. Xu

Department of Civil and Systems Engineering, James Cook University of North

Queensland, Townsville, QLD, 4811, Australia

K. C. S. Kwok
School of Civil and Mining Engineering, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006,
Australia
(Received June 1992, revised version accepted September 1992)

General mode shape correction factors are suggested to adjust

aeroelastic model test results to prototype values of tall buildings for
alongwind, crosswind and torsional vibrations. These factors were
found to agree well with previous experimental and analytical results
in the literature.
Keywords: aeroelastic test, tall building, mode shape

Aeroelastic model tests are commonly used to provide

information on the overall wind induced mean and
dynamic loads and responses of a tall building. A twodegree-of-freedom model which simulates the building
response in its two orthogonal fundamental sway modes
of vibration, is effective for tall buildings of compact
cross-section where alongwind and crosswind responses
are dominant. ~ A simple aeroelastic model which produces only torsional vibration is also a convenient and
efficient way to study torsional responses of wind
excited tall buildings when the coupled effects between
translational and torsional vibrations of tall buildings
can be ignored. 2
However, if the prototype fundamental mode shapes
of translational vibration depart significantly from a
straight line variation, some adjustments to the results
obtained from aeroelastic tests become necessary.
Similarly significant corrections are needed to adjust the
fundamental torsional responses when the aeroelastic
model of torsional vibration is maintained at a constant
magnitude mode shape. The same problem exists in the
force balance technique although there are some differences between the two testing techniques in the principle and method of estimating building responses.
Based on the cospectrum of the longitudinal
turbulence component of wind velocity, which can be
expressed analytically3, Vickery 4 derived expressions
for estimating the errors in calculating the response of
buildings in the alongwind direction. A similar correction cannot be developed for the crosswind or lift direction as there are no reliable analytical models for the
wind induced lift forces. Saunders and Melbourne 5,
Kwok 6, Kareem 7 and Holmes 8 have examined two

limiting cases of mode shape correction factors in alongwind and crosswind directions for low and high correlations of wind forces with height. However, the
additional assumptions, that the spectrum of the force
per unit height was invariant with the height of buildings
for low correlation of wind forces and that the spectrum
was a constant for high correlation, may cause the
results to deviate from the actual limiting values of mode
shape correction factors, especially for torsional correction factors.
Referrin~ to the force balance technique, Tschanz and
Davenport- suggested a method by which base-shear
measurements may be used to obtain approximate torsional mode shape correction. Tallin and Ellingwood ~
used pressure measurement data to find the generalized
torsional load spectrum and suggested that the RMS
modal torque for a linear mode shape should be 57% of
the measured base torque and the RMS modal torque for
a cantilever mode shape should be 51% of the measured
torque by the force balance technique. Vickery et al. ~
estimated corrections to both top accelerations and base
moments, primarily for sway components, from both
analytical and experimental aspects. Boggs and
Peterka ~2 also discussed mode shape corrections in the
force balance technique. They suggested two adjustment
factors: one applicable to displacements and accelerations; and a second applicable to equivalent static loads.
In this paper, estimation of mode shape corrections is
based on the aeroelastic testing technique and actual
generalized mass (or mass moment of inertia). Two
limiting values of error, for low and high correlations of
wind loads with height, are discussed, based on an
assumption of the cospectra of alongwind, crosswind

0141-0296/93/050387-06
1993 Butterworth-Heinemann Ltd

Eng. Struct. 1993, Volume 15, Number 5 387

Wind tunnel tests of tall buildings. Y. L. Xu and K. C. S. Kwok

and torsional excitations. The general expressions for

mode shape correction factors are suggested and compared with previous results in the literature.

Mode shape correction factors

The mode shape correction factor is usually taken as a
correction to the generalized excitation spectrum in the
first mode of vibration. The general equation to correct
the generalized alongwind and crosswind excitation
spectrum for a linear mode shape to that for an arbitrary
mode shape is
r/2(n)

SF(n)

in which c is the power law exponent of the mean wind

velocity profile and v is a constant referring to wind
excitation types. For alongwind turbulence excitation, v
is equal to one because of the existence of the mean force
in this direction; for crosswind wake excitation and
torsional excitation, the value of two for v is used at this
stage, which is indicated by Boggs and Peterka L2.
A power law with exponent, 3, is taken as the general
form for actual mode shape, i.e.

(z)

(5)

--

SF,(n)

Now, consider two limiting cases of the correction factor for low and high correlation levels.

!'~i'~Co(z,,

Z2, n) b(zl)cb(z2)dzldz2

,0 . 0

t'h i~hC0(Zl, Z2, n)(zl/h)(z2/h)dztdz2

,,0 ~0
(1)
The general equation to correct the generalized torsional
excitation spectrum for a constant mode shape to that for
an arbitrary mode shape is
r / ~ ( n ) - Sv(n)
St, (n)

Low correlation level

For a low correlation level, the correlation of wind loads
falls off rapidly with increasing distance I z ~ - z21,
i.e., assuming

R(zl--z2'n)=l~

f",t'Co(z,

zlZl=Z2#
z2

(6)

, Z2, n)(Zl)(z2)dzldZ2

__

(2)

,l'h

i ~ Co(zt, z2, n)dzldz2

in which the quantity r/(n) or r/,(n) is referred to as

mode shape correction factor, Si(n) is the generalized
excitation spectrum (i = F, F1, T, Tl), Co(zl, z2, n) is
the cospectrum of fluctuating alongwind, crosswind, or
torsional excitation, ~(z) is the mode shape function, n
is the frequency in Hz and h is the height of building.

As a result, substituting equations (3)-(6) into (1) or

(2), one obtains a limiting value of the correction factor
as follows:
For alongwind responses

r/,, =

Two limits of mode shape correction factors

Consider the following form for the cospectrum

Co(z1, z2, n)= W(z,)W(z2)ST(n)R(zl - Z2, n)

(3)

whereW(z) is the amplitude of the fluctuating wind force

or torque at height z; Si(n) is the unit fluctuating wind
force or torque spectrum, and R(Zl - Z2, n) is a crosscorrelation function which depends on the separation
distance I z ~ - z21. This type of cospectrum can be
used to describe alongwind excitation quite well. It can
also be used to model approximately crosswind excitation and torsional excitation. However, amplitude
dependent excitations in the crosswind direction such as
lock-in and galloping are not considered here.
The amplitude of the fluctuating wind force or torque,
W(z), is considered to be

W(z) = W(h)

388

Eng. Struct. 1993, Volume 15, Number 5

(4)

t'0.,,.,o,,z,.zz/

1/2

:[ 2 +3 ],,,2

(7)

2c~ + 23 + 1
For crosswind responses

W2(z) 2(z)dz
L!oW2(z)(z/h) 2dz

4a + 3
I 1~2
4c~ + 23 + 1

(8)

Wind tunnel tests of tall buildings. Y. L. Xu and K. C. S. Kwok

For crosswind responses:

For torsional responses

W:(z):(z)dz]
[

fl W(z)cb(z)dz

t"o

~t I

~c 2

~J~W(Z)(Z/h)dz

2cx+2
2~x+3+

(12)

j0

For torsional responses

(9)

4c~ + 2~ + 1

tl W(z)rb(z)dz

2c~+1
2a+~+l

(13)

f'o W(z)dz

High correlation level

Another limiting value can be achieved for the high correlation level, i.e., assuming

R(Zl --Z2, n) =--1

(lO)

Characteristics of mode shape correction

factors

The result is for alongwind responses is:

, W(z)'b(z)dz
i

The alongwind mode shape correction factors %, and

%: are plotted in Figure 1 for several typical values of
c and 0 </3 < 2. It can be seen that all curves pass
through a value of unity for /~ = 1. Despite the difference in the assumption about the cross-correlation
function, the corresponding two curves for the low and
high correlation levels are relatively close to each other,

~'

~,,: =

~+2

~(Jo W(z)(z/h)dz

(11)

c+~+1

Z.O

Z.O

\
-

.6

\\

1.6

8 ~.2

0.8

0[, : 0
0.4
0

0.8

""~

(7, = 0.15

I
I
I
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Power law exponent of mode shape @

0.4
0

2.0

2.0

.6

1.6

=
I
I
0.5
1.0
1.5
Power law exponent of mode shape ~]

.0

2
._~ I . Z
1_

o0.8

~0.8
Or, = 0.25

0.4
0

I
I
I
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
Power low exponent of mode shape [~

Figure 1 A l o n g w i n d mode shape correction factor. ( - - )

Or, = 0 . 5 6
0.4
0

I
I
I
0.5
1.0
1.5
Power law exponent of mode shape

.0

l o w correlation; ( - - ) , high correlation; ( O ) , Vickery et a111

Eng. Struct. 1993, Volume 15, Number 5

389

Wind tunnel tests of tall buildings. Y. L. Xu and K. C. S. Kwok

especially in the range of practical interest from

/3 = 0.5 - 2 . 0 . It can also be seen that the effect of terrain
conditions on mode shape correction factors is not
apparent when /3 > 1.
Variations of the crosswind mode shape correction
factors, ~/,, and r/,:, with o~ and/3 are shown in Figure
2. The curves have the same characteristics as the alongwind mode shape correction factors. However, the terrain parameter, o~ affects the crosswind correction
factors more than the alongwind correction factors.
With the increase of c~, the curves become flatter.
The torsional mode shape correction factors q,, and
~/,: are plotted in Figure 3. All the curves pass through
a value of unity for/3 equal to zero and then decrease
with increasing [3 values. With the increasing ~x values,
the two limiting values of the correction factors increase
towards a value of unity. Compared with the translational correction factors, the torsional correction factor
is sensitive to the nonuniformities of the sectional wind
torque with height.

are the same as those suggested by Boggs and Peterka ~4

for both sway modes and torsional mode, respectively.
They used different approximate derivation for the force
balance technique. It should also be noted that, for
o~ = 0, the expressions of the alongwind correction factors are the same as those of the crosswind correction
factors and those provided by Holmes ~. Therefore, the
present mode shape correction factors seem to be more
general.
Vickery et al. ~ carried out wind
tunnel
measurements of the sway mode shape correction for a
square-section building in two different terrain simulations. Their experimental results showed that the correction factors were not sensitive to the frequency variable
n in a range of reduced frequencies of practical interest
for tall buildings, which supported the present assumption for the cospectra of the wind loads. Some of their
results are also plotted in Figure 1, and are seen to agree
well with the curves of the low correlation level, when
/3 > 1, and with the curves of the high correlation level,
when /3 < 1. Tallin and Ellinwood ~ used pressure
measurement data for a particular building model to
analyse the torsional mode shape correction factor. They
found that 'generalized torque' correction factors should
be 0.57 for a linear mode shape and 0.51 for a cantilever
mode shape. These values are also shown in Figure 3 for
o~ = 0 . 1 5 .
From the above comparison, especially with the
experimental results, mode shape correction factors
should in practice be taken conservatively as follows;

Discussion
Firstly, it should be noted that the expression of the
alongwind correction factor for the high correlation
level is the same as that implied in the approximate
derivation of gust response factor for alongwind loading
by Vickery 4. The expressions of the crosswind and torsional correction factors for the high correlation level

2.0

2. o [ \ k
8

1.6

1.6

.~

1.2

I. 2 -

00.8

0.8
0~=0
0.4

I
0.5

(7, = 0,15

"-.
I
1.0

I
1.5

0,4

I
0.5

2.0

I
1.5

2.0

Power law exponent of mode shape

Power law exponent of mode shape

2oI

2.0

2
g

8
2

1.6 <,

._o 1.2

~0.8

0.8
~

0.4
0

: 0.56

= 0.25

I
0.5

I
1.0

I
I. 5

2.0

Power low exponent of mode shape

Figure 2

390

I
1.0

Crosswind mode shape correction factor, ( - - ) ,

Eng. Struct. 1993, Volume 15, Number 5

0.4

0.5

1.0
1.5
Power law exponent of mode shape

l o w correlation; ( - - - ) ,

high correlation

2.0

Wind tunnel tests of tall buildings." Y. L. Xu and K. C. S. Kwok

1.0

1.0

0~=0
O.B

0.8

t,
~

--..-

; 0,5

--0.6

0.6

0.4

~ 0.4
0
0

0.2

0.2

0
0

I.
I
I
0.5
I.O
1.5
Power law exponent of mode shape

2.0

I
0.5

I
1.0

I
1.5

2.0

Power law exponent of mode shape

1.0

1.0

Of, = 0 . 2 5

= 0.36

O.B

0.8

~0.6

~0.6

~ 0.4

~0.4

0.2

0.2

0
0

I
I
I
0.5
1.0
1.5
Power law exponent o f mode shape ~

Figure 3 Torsional mode shape correction factor. ( - - ) ,

I+2

0
2.0

r/, =

/3___1

2c~ + 3

1/2

+23+1)

(14)
3->1

For crosswind responses:

I
r/,. =

2c~+2
2o~+3+

4c~ + 3
('c~ + 2 3

+ 1)

(15)
3-> 1

For torsional responses:

r/, =

4c~ + 1 ] i/2
4c~ + 23 + 1

2.0

high correlation; (11) Tallin and Ellingwood 1

quency variable n, it is noted that the correction factors

provide direct limiting corrections for the top (twist
angular) displacement and acceleration responses in the
present modelling technique. In addition, the factors
also provide direct limiting corrections for dynamic base
torque responses, only if the actual mass moment
distribution and fundamental mode shape are used in further calculation. Clearly, the squares of the factor represent limiting corrections for the generalized excitation
spectra.

Conclusions

3-<1
I/2

I
I
I
0.5
1.0
1.5
Power law exponent of mode shape

l o w correlation; ( - - - ) ,

For a longwind responses:

o~+3+1

(16)

The relationships between the standard deviations of the

top (twist angular) displacement and acceleration
responses and the generalized excitation spectrum can
be easily obtained, according to random vibration
theory. Because the two limiting values of the mode
shape correction factors are not dependent on the fre-

Based on an assumption of the cospectra of wind loads,

two limiting values of error, for low and high correlations of wind loads with height, were discussed. Three
mode shape correction factors, for alongwind, crosswind and torsional responses, respectively, were suggested to adjust the experimental response results to the
prototype values. The derived expressions for the proposed correction factors are more general than the
previous expressions reported in the literature and the
corresponding curves are in reasonable agreement with
available experimental results.

References
1 ASCE Manuals and Reports on Engineering Practice No. 67, 'Wind
tunnel model studies of building and structures', prepared by the Task

Eng. Struct. 1993, Volume 15, Number 5

391

Wind tunnel tests of tall buildings. Y. L. Xu and K. C. S. Kwok

3
4
5

Committee on Manual of Practice for Wind Tunnel Testing of

Buildings and Structures of the Committee on Aerodynamics of the
Aerospace Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers, 1987
Xu, Y. L., Kwok, K. C. S. and Samali, B. 'Torsional response and
vibration suppression of wind-excited buildings, J. H4nd Eng. Ind.
Aerodyn., 1992, 43, 1997 2008
Davenport, A. G. 'The application of statistical concepts to the wind
loading of structures', Proc. Inst. Cir. Eng., 1961, 19, 4 4 9 - 4 7 2
Vickery, B. J. 'On the reliability of gust loading factors', Cir. Eng.
Trans., Inst. Eng. Australia, 1971, 13, 1 - 9
Saunders, J. W. and Melbourne, W. H., "Wind-excited buildings design sway stiffness', Roy. Melbourne Inst. Technol. Dept. Mech.
Prod. Eng. Rep., November, 1977
Kwok, K. C. S. 'Cross-wind response of tall buildings', Eng. Struct.,
1982, 4, 2 5 6 - 2 6 2

392

Eng. Struct 1993, Volume 15, Number 5

7 Kareem, A. 'Model for predicting the across-wind response c~t

buildings', Eng. Struct., 1984, 6 (2), 136-141
8 Holmes, J. D. 'Mode shape correction factors for dynamic response
to wind', Eng. Struct., 1987, 9. 2 1 0 - 2 1 2
9 Tschanz, T. and Davenport, A. G. 'The base balance technique for
the determination of dynamic wind loads', J. Wind. Eng. Ind.
Aerodyn., 1983, 13, 4 2 9 - 4 3 9
10 Tallin, A. and Ellingwood, B. 'Analysis of torsional moments on tall
buildings', J. Wind. Eng. and Ind. Aerodyn., 1985, 18, 191 - 195
11 Vickery, P. J., Steckley, A., Isyumov, N. and Vickery, B. J. 'The
effect of mode shape on the wind-induced response of tall buildings',
Proc. of the Fifth US Nat. Conf. on Wind Eng., Texas Technical
University, 1B-41 - IB-48, 1985
12 Boggs, D. W. and Peterka, J. A. 'Aerodynamic model tests of tall
buildings', J. Eng. Mech.. ASCE, 1989, 115 (3), 6 1 8 - 6 3 5