ProceedingsofACOUSTICS2016 911November2016,Brisbane,Australia

Wind Induced Vibration of Balcony Railings

Sasho Temelkoski1, Jassi Singh1 and Sam Fraser1
1ATPConsultingEngineers,Queensland,Australia

ABSTRACT
AhighrisebuildingontheGoldCoasthadnewbalustradesinstalledaspartofbuildingrefurbishment.Afterreplacement
of the balustrades there were complaints of "humming" and "metallic rattling" noise coming from the balustrades on
windydays.Thiscasewasuniquebecauseoftheveryhighnoiseemissionsfromthebalustrades.Aninvestigationwas
carriedouttodeterminethemechanismofnoisegeneration.Thenoisewasfoundtobeassociatedwithhighamplitude
vibrationofafewindividualbalusters(verticalrailings).Theseverityofvibrationwasduetoresonance,wherebysteady
windofoptimumspeedanddirectionwouldproduceaerodynamicforcesonthebalusterscoincidingwiththeirnatural
frequency.

1. INTRODUCTION
A 40storey apartment building on the Gold Coast has recently undergone refurbishment, including
replacementofthebalconyrailings.Sincetheinstallationofthenewrailingstherehavebeennumerouscomplaints
fromthebuildingoccupantsabouthighlyannoyingnoiseoriginatingfromthebalconiesonwindydays.
Manybuildingsandstructuresareaffectedbywindinducednoisetosomedegree.Thecasestudypresentedin
this paper is unique because under certain conditions the noise is highly intrusive, widespread and causes great
discomforttothebuildingoccupants.

2. BALUSTRADE CONSTRUCTION
The original railings were made of aluminium alloy and the vertical elements (balusters) were circular tubes
with diameter of 16mm, wall thickness of approximately 1mm andlength of 1100mm. The balusters were spot
weldedtothetopandbottomrailings.Duetotheirlightweightconstructionthebalusterscoulddeformeasilyand
posedasafetyrisk.However,therewerenoissueswithwindgeneratednoise.
The new balustrades are also aluminium and have a similar design except the tubular elements have
significantlyhigherstiffness.Thebalustersnowhavediameterof22mmandwallthicknessof3mm.Photoshowing
asectionofthenewlyinstalledbalustradesispresentedinFigure1.Forclaritythedifferentcomponentsthatmake
upthebalustradearelabelled.

Figure1:Newbalustrades

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3. DESCRIPTION OF THE NOISE
3.1 Source of Noise
The noise under investigation is caused by vibration of individual balusters. The vibration is mostly in the
transversedirection(sidetoside),perpendiculartotheoncomingwind.Intheworstcasesomebalustersvibrate
withsurprisinglyhighpeaktopeakamplitudeofupto10mmatthecentreofthespan.Underthishighlyenergetic
statethenoiseemissionsareveryhigh.
Generallyonlyoneortwobalustersperbalconywillundergotheworstcasevibrationatanyonetime.The
phenomenonisknowntooccuratnumerousapartments(atleast10)withinthebuilding.
The authors have visited the apartments where the noise events have been frequent. Detailed observations
andnoisemeasurementswerecarriedout.
The noise can be stopped by placing ones hand on the vibrating baluster which proves that the noise is
generatedbythevibrationofthebalustersonly,withnosignificantpostsorrailsexcitation.
3.2 Wind Conditions
Handheldanemometerwasusedtomeasurethewindspeedonthebalconieswhenthebalusternoisewasvery
strong and on days when there was no noise, but wind speed was relatively high. The range of wind speeds
measuredononeofthebalconiesonadaywithstrong,sustainedwinds,wasbetween9m/sand21m/s.
Theworstcasevibrationwasobservedwhentheairvelocitywasintherangeof13to16m/s.Below13m/sthe
balustersvibratewithlesseramplitude,themovementisimperceptibleandthereisnoaudiblesoundgeneration.
Basedonsiteobservationsandmodelling,theairflowoverthebalustershadtobesteadyandlaminartotriggerthe
worstcasevibration.Theshapeofthebuildingalsoplaysaroleinchannellingandenhancingthewindspeed.This
buildinghaslargeexposedbalconiesprotrudingfromthemainstructureand,becauseofincreaseinwindvelocity,
theworstcasevibrationoccursatthecornerbalusters.
Ingeneral,windspeedincreaseswithelevation,thusthevelocityatthetopfloorsofthe40storeybuildingcan
be30%higherthanatgroundlevel(AS1170.2,2011).
Forstrongwindsdirectedfromtheprevailingsoutheasterlydirection,thebalconiesonthesoutherncornersof
thebuildingwerefoundtobemostaffectedbythebalusternoise.Onlesseroccasionsthenorthfacingapartments
havealsobeenaffectedbystrongnortherlywinds.
Thewindconditionsthatcontributetotheresonantexcitationofthenewbalustershavebeenexperiencedon
numberofoccasionsoverasixmonthperiodofrecordsandobservations,thusunfortunatelythenoiseproblemis
unusualbutcommonenoughtocauseannoyanceandlossofamenity.
3.3 Noise Measurements
NoisemeasurementswerecarriedoutonLevel33ofthebuildingwhentheworstcasevibrationwasoccurring.
Thehighestsoundpressurelevelrecordedonthebalcony,atadistanceof2mfromthesourceofthenoise,was
90dB(A).Thenoiselevelwassustainedathigherthan80dB(A)foraperiodofupto16seconds.Overa5minutes
measurementperiodtheaveragesoundpressurelevel(Leq)was78dB(A).Themicrophonewasprotectedbyawind
shieldandwasalsopositionedoutsidethewindstreamtoeliminatebuffetingnoisefromthewinditself.
Thehighestsoundpressurelevelrecordedatthesametimeinthelivingroomoftheapartment,withthedoors
and windows shut, was 62dB(A). The background noise level (L90) when the balusters were not vibrating was
50dB(A).
Thenoisewasclearlyaudibleatotherapartmentsthroughoutthebuildingandevenwithintheliftlobby.
Subjectively the sound is described as a metallic rattling. Noise measurements show that most of the sound
energyispresentatfrequenciesabove1,000Hz,whichconfirmsthehighpitchedmetallicnatureofthesound.
The sound pressure levels, in onethird octave bands, as measured on the balcony at 2m distance from the
vibratingbalustersarepresentedinFigure2.

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Figure2:Soundpressurelevelsat2mfromvibratingbalusters

Eachbalusterhasadominantfrequencyofvibrationaswellashigherordermodesofvibration.Acleanstrike
ofametaltube(withanimpulsehammerforinstance)willcausethetubetovibrateandintheorytheharmonicsof
the resulting sound can be measured. The resulting sound would be subjectively described as ringing with
musicalqualities.
However, the character of the sound observed on the balcony was different. In fact, under the worst case
vibration,withmaximumpeaktopeakamplitudeofupto10mm,thenoisewasamoredisordered,irregularand
broadbandrattlingnoise.Thereasonisthatatsuchhighamplitudesofvibrationandwithhigherfrequencymodes
ofvibrationthesoundismostlygeneratedbydeformationofthemetalstructureanddissipationofenergythrough
internalstresses.Thiscomponentofthenoiseoverpowersthedistinctivehum(Aeoliantone)associatedwiththe
naturalfrequencyofvibration.

4. CAUSE OF VIBRATION
The most likely explanation for the vibration of the balusters under strong winds is vortex induced vibration
(VDV).
4.1 Flow Regimes Cylinder in Cross Flow
The aerodynamics of a fluid flow around a cylinder has been studied extensively. There are a number of
possibleflow regimeswhicharerelatedtoadimensionlessparametercalledtheReynoldsnumber.Thetypeof
flowisalsoaffectedbythesurfaceroughnessandthreedimensionaleffectsalongthelengthofthecylinderwhich
havebeenignoredhereforthesakeofclarity.
TheReynoldsnumber(referencedtothecylinderdiameter)ofairflowingat13to16m/s,wherebytheworst
case vibration is known to occur, ranges from 19000 to 24000. At these Reynolds numbers the flow around a
cylinderconsistsofalaminarboundarylayerwhichbreaksupintoturbulentvorticesinthewakeofthecylinder,as
presentedinFigure3.Thisphenomenonisknownasvortexshedding.

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Figure3:Vortexshedding

4.2 Vortex Induced Vibration

Vortexsheddingisatypeofunsteadyflow.Aseriesofvorticespropagatefromthetrailingedgesoftheobject
andtheturbulentairflowinthewakeassumesanoscillatory,wavymotion.Thispatternofvorticesisalsocalleda
vonKarmanvortexsheet.
The unsteady flow around the object results in periodically higher aerodynamic lift forces being applied to
opposite sides of the object, perpendicular to the direction of the wind. The frequency at which the forces
alternate from side to side is directly linked to rateof creation of the vortices. The frequency of oscillating flow
aroundacylindercanberelatedtoanotherdimensionlessparametercalledtheStrouhalnumber.Forcylinders,the
Strouhalnumberisabout0.2(Blevins,2001).
ThefrequencyofoscillatingflowpredictedbytheStrouhalnumberrangesfrom118to145Hzforthevelocities
ofinterest(13to16m/s).
Thealternatingforcescansettheobject,inthiscaseabaluster,inmotion.
4.3 Baluster Stiffness and Natural Frequency
Thefundamentalfrequencyoftransversevibrationofasinglebalusterwascalculatedfromelasticbeamtheory
consideringbothendsasrigidlyfixed.Thefundamentalfrequencywasfoundtobeapproximately130Hz.Thisis
withintherangeoftheestimatedfrequenciesofoscillatingairflowof118to145Hz.Undertherightconditionsthe
excitationfrequency(airflow)willcoincidewiththenaturalfrequencyofthebaluster.
Thisconditioniscalledresonanceanditiswellknownthatitcancauseseverevibration,evenwithrelatively
smallexcitingforce.Itisanunfortunatecoincidencethatthenewbalustershaveparticularstiffnessandnatural
frequencythatisfavorablyalignedwiththeexcitationfrequencyofthestrongwindsatthesite.
Theoriginalbalustershadanaturalfrequencyofaround100Hzwhichmadethemsusceptibletovibrationat
windsofaround8m/s.Thenewbalustersaretunedtovibrateathigherwindspeedswheretheexcitingforces
arehigherandthereisgreaterinputenergyappliedtothebalustradestructure.
The new balustrades have very rigid posts, top and bottom rails, as well as rigid welded connections. The
balustrade structure has minimal damping and vibrations are readily transmitted through the whole balustrade
structure.
Thesystemspreferredmethodofdissipatingenergyisthroughdeformationofbalusters,whicharethemost
flexible components. Individual balusters are excited by the wind and begin to vibrate and those vibrations are
passedtoadjacentbalusters.Theaerodynamicforcesactingonthebalustersarequitesmallincomparisontothe
stiffnessofthebalusters.However,thebalustersareeffectivelygivenaheadstartastheyarealreadyvibrating
constantlyandthen,whenthelocalizedairflowaroundoneofthebalustershastherightvelocity,thevibrationcan
escalate.
Most of the balusters exposed to winds are always undergoing small amount of vibration, however it is not
audibleabovethebackgroundnoise.Thesoundpoweremittedbytheseparticularbalustersundergoingresonance
issubstantialandfargreaterthanothertypesofwindgeneratednoisewhicharecommonlyencountered.

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5. SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM
The structural engineers involved in the design of the balustrades have been primarily concerned with the
safetyaspect,thusensuringthatthebalustradesarewellanchoredandstiffstructuresthatcanwithstandtypical
forcesofpeopleleaningonthem.Thebalustradesarestructurallysoundandhavebeendesignedtofullycomply
withthesafetyrequirementsinAustralia.Thebalustradeshavealreadybeeninstalledoneverybalconyonthe40
storeybuilding,atgreatfinancialcost.
The wind induced vibration and associated noise problem has been unforeseen. In most situations the
balustrades, as designed and installed, would have performed without any concern. In this case, a set of
unforeseencircumstances,including:strongwinds;laminarflowalongthebuildingcorners;heightandstiffnessof
the balusters; has resulted in severe vibration. The disordered, irregular and broadband rattling noise, that has
promptednumerouscomplaints,hasbeenonlyagiveawaysignofthepotentialstructuralfatigue.
As soon as the cause of the problem was identified, the potential solutions become obvious, at least
theoretically.Thereareanumberofapproachestofixingoratleastmitigatingtheproblem:
1. Changethenaturalfrequencyofthestructure
2. Increasethedampingofthestructure
3. Changeairflowaroundthestructure
4. Fillairspaceswithinthestructure
5.1 Change the Natural Frequency
Thenaturalfrequencyofthebalusterscanbealteredbychangingtheirlengthorchangingtheirstiffness(by
addingmass).Theeffectivelengthofthebalusterscanbereducedbyconnectingadditionalpiecestothem.The
designofthepiecesmustnotcreateaclimbinghazard.
Thestiffnessofthebalusterscanbeincreasedbyaddingmass.Weightscouldbeattachedtothebalustersor
thehollowcavityinsidethemcouldbefilledwithmaterialwithhighdensitysuchasgrout.
5.2 Increase Damping
There are different methods of dissipating vibrational energy within the structure. For example, the welded
connectionscouldberedesigned.
5.3 Change Air Flow
Thebulkairflowaroundthebalconiesandbalustradescanbereducedbyuseofwindshields.Thesewould
needtobedesignedtoensurethatthereisnowindgeneratednoisefromthewindshieldsthemselves.
Thelocalizedairflowaroundthebalusterscanbechangedbyattachingsmalldeflectorsalongthelengthof
the balusters. The deflectors would change the circular, symmetrical cross section and disrupt the oscillating
aerodynamicforcesassociatedwithvortexshedding.
5.4 Fill Internal Air Spaces
The balustrades are constructed of hollow tubes and it is believed that the sound is amplified within the
internal spaces. The internal spaces could be filled with expanding foam. However, the expanding foam adds
almostnostiffnesstothebalustersandtheywouldstillvibrate.Theoverallnoisemaybereducedsomewhatby
eliminatingtheresonanceofsoundwithinthestructure,butlargepartoftherattlingsoundwouldremain.

6. ACTION TAKEN
The project team is currently trialing a solution on one of the worst affected balconies. The solution is to
disturbthelocalizedairflowaroundthebalustersbyattachingmetalstripstothebalusters.
TheretrofitteddeflectorsarepresentedinFigure4.

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Figure4:AirDeflectors

Sofarthedeflectorshavebeeninstalledonalimitednumberofbalusters.Thedeflectorswillonlybeinstalled
at the corners of the balconies, which are the critical locations subject to highest wind velocity and most steady
windflow.
Furtherobservationsareneededtoassesstheeffectivenessofthedeflectors.

7. CONCLUSIONS
Wind generated noise is expected to some degree especially at tall buildings exposed to strong winds.
However,thisinvestigationhasdocumentedacaseinwhichabnormallyhighnoiseemissionshaveoccurred.Under
the worst case scenario, the noise is highly intrusive, widespread and causes great discomfort to the building
occupants. The investigation has identified the main mechanism by which the noise is created, which is vortex
induced vibration. Unfortunately, remedial action is hampered by issues of cost and practicality for this project.
However,therearerangeoftreatmentsavailablewhichcanbeimplementedmoreeasilyonsmallerprojects.The
potentialforwindgeneratednoiseisoftenaneglectedconsiderationinthedesignofbuildingelements.Designers
ofbuildingsinwindylocationsshouldbeawareofpotentialwindnoiseproblemsatthedesignstage.

REFERENCES
Blevins,R.D.,2001,FlowInducedVibrations,2ndedn,KriegerPublishingCompany,Malabar.
StandardsAustralia,2011,StructuralDesignActions,Part2Windactions,AS1170.2:2011.

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