Experimental study of wind loading of rectangular sign structures

Aerodynamic Testing of Variable Message Signs

“…The drag coefficient result of the full scale rectangular box obtained by Smith et al (2014) was noted to be in good agreement with the small scale wind tunnel result by Zuo et al (2014). It was also noted that the mean force coefficient is largest when the horizontal wind direction was normal to the sign face and the mean torque about the vertical axis was largest when the sign was at a 45° horizontal angle to the mean wind direction.…”

“…The previously discussed research studies focused on flat panel signs but recent studies conducted by Smith et al (2014) and Zuo et al (2014) the same for all five models which were configured to represent a rectangular box sign, a single plate sign, an equal spaced double, a 30° V-shaped signs and a 10° V-shaped sign.…”

“…The results of the single and double plate signs are not relevant to this study and the results are not discussed further. Zuo et al (2014) also tested thirty nine 1:50 scale rectangular box shapes with various configurations in the wind tunnel. Dimensions of the models are included in Table 2.5.…”

“…Dimensions of the models are included in Table 2.5. The effect of depth ratio was not investigated by Zuo et al (2014) even though the researchers acknowledged that the depth of the model was expected to affect the wind loading. The chosen depth for all models was 3.68 cm which corresponds to 1.84 m at full scale.…”

“…They also noted that the critical value of the force coefficients and the eccentricity coefficient did not occur at the same horizontal wind direction angle. Table 2.5 Model geometry for Zuo et al (2014) …”