Wind-induced loading on mobile elevating work platforms

移动的升降工作平台（MEWP）广泛用于室内和室外的施工和维护。当MEWP在室外使用时，它们可能会受到稳定风或阵风的空气动力学载荷，这可能会危及平台的稳定性并危及操作人员。因此，在工程设计阶段准确估计气动载荷对于开发安全稳定的MEWP至关重要。拟议的研究旨在协助Skyjack，一家加拿大公司和世界领先的MEWP制造商之一，估计其新产品系列的空气动力学载荷。将使用滑铁卢大学的计算流体动力学工具估计MEWP上的气动载荷，为MEWP设计和优化提供所需的关键数据。建模将基于MEWP的全三维模型，结果将根据工业合作伙伴最近进行的风洞测试进行验证。虽然最终认证需要实验测试，但计算建模将作为一种经济的设计优化工具，并将为改进风险评估提供急需的数据。拟议的研究将使Skyjack能够加强其国内和国际市场地位，并将提高MEWP的安全性。最后，该项目将使滑铁卢大学能够培训高素质的人员。

Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs) are widely used for indoor and outdoor construction and maintenance. When MEWPs are used outdoors, they can be subjected to aerodynamic loading due to steady winds or wind gusts, which can jeopardize the stability of the platform and endanger the operating personnel. Thus, the accurate estimation of aerodynamic loading at the engineering design stage is paramount to the development of safe and stable MEWPs. The proposed research aims to assist Skyjack, a Canadian company and one of the world's leading manufacturers of MEWPs, with estimating aerodynamic loads on their new line-up of products. The aerodynamic loads on MEWPs will be estimated using Computational Fluid Dynamics tools at the University of Waterloo, providing critical data required for MEWP design and optimization. The modelling will be based on full three-dimensional models of MEWPs, and the results will be validated against recent wind tunnel tests performed by the industrial partner. While experimental testing will be required for the final certification, the computational modelling will serve as an economical design optimization tool, and will provide much needed data for improved risk assessment. The proposed research will allow Skyjack tostrengthen its national and international market position, and will lead to improved safety of MEWPs. Finally, the project will enable the training of highly qualified personnel at the University of Waterloo.