Wind tunnel tests of a hexadecagonal cylinder with imperfections and ancillaries: aerodynamic characterization and technical discussion

This paper evaluates and discusses the aerodynamic properties of a 16-sided polygonal cylinder with imper- fections and ancillaries investigated by wind tunnel tests. Two sectional models with different size have been realized, reproducing the peculiarities of real structures, such as the rounded corners, local protuberance due to weld bead, cables, ducts and the external ladder. The models have been subjected to static tests to measure the mean force coefficients and the Strouhal number varying angle of attack, flow velocity, turbulence intensity focusing on the effects of the imperfections and ancillaries on the aerodynamic loads with consideration of Reynolds number effects. The results provide an estimate of the aerodynamic coefficients for this type of ele- ments, quantify the influence of geometrical and flow properties on the aerodynamic behaviour and point out the sensitivity of such polygonal cross-section to galloping instability.