Experimental investigation of wind load characteristics of regular octagon prisms with variable cross-section

Wind load characteristics of variable cross-section regular octagon prisms were explored through wind tunnel experiments. The average pressure and aerodynamic loads on the prism were measured with Reynolds number from 3.0×106 to 8.9×106. The distribution of average pressure coefficient in the circumference and axial direction were concluded from the wind tunnel experimental results. Furthermore, the effects of Reynolds number and wind angle on Strouhal number were analyzed. The results show that the average pressure coefficient distribution changes greatly in the circumferential direction, and the average pressure axial distribution shows a non-uniform distribution when the slope angle of the prism side wall exceeds a certain value. Besides, the wind angle exerts great effects on the average pressure circumferential distribution, and the Strouhal number tends to be a stable value with the increase of Reynolds number in different wind angles.