Experimental study of wind loading of rectangular sign structures

A three-phase experimental campaign was conducted to study wind loading of sign structures with rectangular sign faces. Full-scale measurements and wind-tunnel tests conducted in phase 1 of the studies showed consistent results for wind loading of a prototype rectangular box sign and its scaled model, validating the methodologies used in the wind tunnel tests. Five models of representative rectangular signs of different configurations were tested in the wind tunnel as the second phase of the study, the results of which revealed the significant influence of the geometrical configuration of rectangular sign structures on their wind loading. Motivated by the observations made in this phase of comparative investigation, an extensive series of wind tunnel tests were performed in the last phase of the study to evaluate wind loading of rectangular box signs of various configurations. The effects of the aspect and clearance ratios on wind loading of rectangular box signs are highlighted based on this phase of the study.