Time-Varying Pressure Distribution on Solar Updraft Tower (an Axisymmetric Structure) Induced by a Translating Downburst

The characteristics of time-varying mean wind pressure distribution on the surface of solar updraft tower (SUT, an axisymmetric structure) in a translating thunderstorm downburst is discussed based on revised Chen and Letchford’s empirical model, in which Wood et al.’s empirical model for vertical profile of radial velocity, revised Poreh and Cermak’s empirical model for horizontal profile of radial velocity by considering the full time variation of downburst jet intensity, and Holmes and Oliver’ empirical model for the time function are utilized. The results show that the time histories of mean wind pressures at the points around the circular surface are complex due to the moving of stagnation points for the SUT. The time fluctuation is driven by the summation of the moving of downburst and the characteristics of pressure distribution on the SUT.