Optimizing future building facades and structures in terms of acoustics and vibration

The challenge

When building architects are in the design phase of a property project, it is essential to ensure that all the studies carried out are thoroughly validated. Among the important aspects to consider are the acoustic and vibratory response of the facade elements and structures of future buildings under wind excitation, as well as the risks of aerodynamic airborne noise and mechanical noise. In this context, AIA Ingénierie, a building design office, called on METRAVIB to ensure the vibro-acoustic response of sunbreakers on a future building.

These façade elements are increasingly used to reduce energy costs by cooling buildings with large glazed areas, but also for aesthetic reasons.

The solution

To minimise these risks and guarantee optimum acoustic quality, an additional analysis is required. This study makes it possible to identify potential sources of noise linked to the interaction between the wind and the structure, to understand their propagation and their impact on the building’s interior environment, and finally, to propose effective solutions to attenuate them.

A common concern when designing a building is the acoustic and vibratory response of facades and structures, which can create vortices under wind excitation. Because of the position and shape of these façade elements, it was necessary to study their interaction with the wind in order to avoid potential sources of noise and vibration and to minimise coupling phenomena with the building’s structural modes.

The study carried out by METRAVIB recommended design rules to the architects AIA Ingénierie to limit fluid/structural interactions of the façade elements, based on feedback from our experts and using digital simulation tools. This enabled us to detect potential design problems, such as undesirable resonances or excessive noise levels, and to propose a new design for the façade elements even before the building was constructed.

By optimizing the design of façade and structural elements, AIA ingénierie can ensure that the interior environment is less disturbed by the interaction of wind with the structure, and more comfortable, thereby improving the quality of life of building occupants.