MECHENG 714 : Wind Engineering
Engineering
2020 Semester One (1203) (15 POINTS)
Course Prescription
Course Overview
The philosophy of this course is to expose postgraduate students to a range of advanced material in wind engineering which will help equip them for research and consulting positions in the field of wind engineering.
The course content builds on an assumed undergraduate knowledge of students in fluid mechanics, theory of vibration, and general design considerations.
Approximate Course Outline:
Week Topic
1. Introduction
2. Atmospheric motions
3. The Planetary Boundary Layer (PBL) and wind profiles
4. Spectra and Turbulence
5. Wind Climate and Extreme winds
6. Bluff body aerodynamics
7. Tall buildings – gust factor approach
8. Tall buildings – cross wind excitation and response
9. Low rise buildings - codification
10. Wind tunnel testing
11. Pedestrian level winds
12. Wind, tidal and wave energy
Capabilities Developed in this Course
| Capability 1: | Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice |
| Capability 2: | Critical Thinking |
| Capability 3: | Solution Seeking |
| Capability 4: | Communication and Engagement |
| Capability 5: | Independence and Integrity |
| Capability 6: | Social and Environmental Responsibilities |
Learning Outcomes
- Understand Understand how atmospheric motions produce the wind, and which storm types are important for wind loading design. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Develop Familiarity with the Atmospheric Boundary Layer - the lower 2000 m or so that we build and live in. Be able to describe and model it in terms of fluid dynamic properties. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Apply Be able to describe and model wind climate and extreme winds using statistical distributions and extreme value theory. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Demonstrate Be familiar with bluff body aerodynamics, the dynamic loading process from the wind and the forces that are produced in the along-wind and cross-wind directions. (Capability 1, 2 and 3)
- Evaluate Be able to determine the loads on tall buildings in the along and cross-wind directions, determine the response, and assess whether or not the behaviour is acceptable from ultimate loading and serviceability points of view. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6)
- Demonstrate Can explain the wind loading process on low rise buildings, and quantify such loading by using modern design Standards and Codes. (Capability 1, 2, 3 and 6)
- Demonstrate Be able to use boundary layer wind tunnels to determine the forces, moments and pressures on models, and determine the resulting response for specified structural properties of the prototypes. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Communicate Be aware of pedestrian level wind issues, comfort and criteria, and be able to assess a region's suitability for its intended purpose (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
- Identify Have a working knowledge of wind, tidal and wave energy, and be able to estimate the available power available from units of specified size in a given natural environment. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Assessments
| Assessment Type | Percentage | Classification |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 48% | Individual Coursework |
| Laboratories | 5% | Individual Coursework |
| Test | 47% | Individual Test |
| 3 types | 100% |
| Assessment Type | Learning Outcome Addressed | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | ||
| Assignments | ||||||||||
| Laboratories | ||||||||||
| Test | ||||||||||
Workload Expectations
This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.
For this course, you can expect 24 hours of lectures, 26 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 100 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.
Learning Resources
Digital Resources
Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).
Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity
The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.
Learning Continuity
In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.
Class Representatives
Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.
Inclusive Learning
All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.
Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website at http://disability.auckland.ac.nz
Special Circumstances
If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.
If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page: https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.
This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.
Student Feedback
At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.
Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.
Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.
Student Charter and Responsibilities
The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html).
Disclaimer
Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.
In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.