TP25-01 A Comparative Study of Design Codes and Wind Tunnel Tests for Hyperbolic Cooling Towers

This study aims to estimate the wind loads acting on an existing hyperbolic cooling tower structure by comparing and reviewing design codes and the results of wind tunnel tests. Design comparisons are made between the wind load provisions in the design code at the time of construction and the current wind load provisions provided in ASCE/SEI 7 - Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures. Wind tunnel test results and their relation to topography, wind directionality, and cooling tower operational states are provided for comparison to the original and current design codes. The wind tunnel testing utilized scale models of the as-built tower structure from 3D laser scans to maintain an accurate depiction of site conditions. The insights gained from this study will contribute to the development of more resilient cooling tower designs and retrofits of existing towers, to better withstand varying wind conditions.