Bluff-body-aerodynamics
Most civil structures are bluff bodies. The main feature of the flow around bluff bodies is the formation of large vortices, in their wakes, which strongly affect the wind loading and the structural response.
The investigation, analysis and understanding of bluff bodies aerodynamics are complex since the flow around bluff bodies depends not only on the shape of the body, but on many other factors, such as the Reynolds number and turbulence characteristics.
The WinDyn research group deals with bluff-body aerodynamics through an interdisciplinary approach that involves theoretical, computational and experimental studies.
Experimental studies have been performing in the wind tunnel laboratory at the Department of Civil, Chemical and Environmental Engineering of the University of Genova. They include flow velocity measurements and visualizations as well as pressure, force and moment measurements on slender and 3D bluff-bodies.
