Novel polymer sensory systems based on Pressure Sensitive Paints for aerodynamic testing to accurately predict the impact of building designs on the risk of adverse weather events and pedestrian wind comfort in urban areas.

Space Technology Will Help Map Pressure Distribution on Skyscrapers

"During the design stage of high-rise buildings located in the centers of large cities, aerodynamic testing is necessary to determine their wind resistance. To achieve this, pressure mapping - measuring the distribution of air pressure across building surfaces - is carried out. In our research, we utilize luminescent Pressure Sensitive Paint technology, which is also used by NASA for testing space shuttles, among other applications. We are studying how to best adapt it for aerodynamic testing to accurately predict the impact of building structures on the risk of adverse weather events and pedestrian wind comfort in urban areas," says Maciej Pilch, PhD Eng., from the Wind Engineering Laboratory at the Faculty of Civil Engineering, Tadeusz Kościuszko Cracow University of Technology. The research is funded by the European Funds for Modern Economy (FENG) program under the Proof of Concept scheme implemented by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP).

As the scientist explains, mapping pressure distribution on skyscraper surfaces is essential to ensure both safety and comfort for residents and occupants. It is also crucial for pedestrians, as wind vortices can form around high-rise buildings, especially in urban canyons between them, making movement difficult. Furthermore, the wind tunneling effect causes wind speeds to reach levels that can detach facade elements, posing a significant threat to passersby. For these reasons, aerodynamic testing of skyscrapers is mandatory by law in several countries.

The research hypothesis tested in the Proof of Concept project assumes that a new type of Pressure Sensitive Paints (PSP) system can be used for aerodynamic testing of high-rise buildings. PSPs are special luminescent coatings sensitive to pressure changes. Dr. Pilch's team has improved existing commercial PSP systems, such as those used by NASA. Key advantages of the newly developed coatings include increased sensitivity to pressure changes within the range of interest for structural wind engineering, as well as the ability to measure pressure exerted by any medium (gas, liquid, solid), opening up new application domains.

"To verify the utility of our newly developed PSP systems for skyscraper aerodynamic testing, we conduct model wind tunnel tests on sample high-rises using these systems. We then compare the results with those obtained from traditional point pressure sensor techniques in the wind tunnel at the Wind Engineering Laboratory of Cracow University of Technology. The new pressure mapping technology we propose is not only cheaper than traditional sensors, but also significantly easier to apply—for instance, on modern, architecturally complex buildings with intricate spatial geometries. Compared to widely used grids of point pressure sensors, our systems offer vastly higher (at least several hundred times greater) spatial resolution and allow precise measurements at the edges and corners of the tested models, which is impossible with conventional systems," explains Maciej Pilch, PhD Eng.

This new technology can be applied not only when designing new buildings, but also during the retrofitting and modernization of existing structures. Additionally, it can be used for pressure distribution mapping on bridges and other structures exposed to wind forces.

The project team plans to patent the developed solution and is considering establishing a spin-off company involving Cracow University of Technology to manufacture and sell the finished product. An alternative route is selling the intellectual property rights to an interested commercial partner.

Maciej Pilch, PhD Eng., is a graduate of the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology at Cracow University of Technology, where he also defended his PhD thesis pursued in an interdisciplinary format under the POLIDOCTUS program. He has served or serves as principal investigator in five research and implementation projects: TRL 4.0 "Innovation Incubator 4.0" (Ministry of Science and Higher Education - MNiSW), Diamond Grant (MNiSW), PRELUDIUM 20 (National Science Centre - NCN), LIDER XII (National Centre for Research and Development - NCBR), and Proof of Concept (FNP). He is the co-author of 21 scientific papers and 6 patents. Furthermore, he has won several awards in chemical and wind engineering, including 1st place in the "Young Innovators" competition in 2019, and the Prof. Janusz Magiera Foundation Award for Young Talents at Cracow University of Technology. His scientific interests encompass photochemistry, electrochemistry, wind engineering, aerodynamic testing, and 3D printing. He currently works as an assistant professor (adiunkt) at the Wind Engineering Laboratory, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Cracow University of Technology. In executing the Proof of Concept project, he continues his long-standing work on Pressure Sensitive Paint systems, which formed the core of his engineering, master's, and doctoral degrees.