Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have presented a numerical method for the simulation and prediction of a large cooling tower damage due to a typhoon. The method utilizes a WRF-CFD wind field downscaling technology, a fine simulation of the near-ground multiscale wind field and finally, setting the obtained 3D wind load on a finite element model and perform a pseudo-dynamic analysis. Commercial software packages have been used. Stress distributions and distortions of the tower, as well as response time history of key parameters are utilized to determine and describe the collapse mechanism. The topic of research is very interesting, the scientific approach of a very good level and the results contribute to the relative field.

This reviewer thinks that the paper has to be published. However, minor revision is required. The use of English language needs improvement. To this end, this reviewer proposes some corrections / modifications in the attached scanned text, where the authors can find also some more remarks and questions.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

 

This is an interesting paper which will be of particular interest to civil engineers. It will also be of interest to engineers in other disciplines interested in fluid-structure coupling and modelling structural failures using CFD. The paper is written well, although a few minor amendments are suggested. After which, I would recommend the paper is published.

The title is appropriate and abstract describe the paper well, although it is a little brief, perhaps more detail could be added. The first 4 lines should be rewritten.

Page1, affiliation 2 is not used by any author

Page 3, last sentence of section 2.1, define what level 17 refers to?

Page 5, section 3.1.3 and fig 3, are these sims in 2D, if not specify

Figures 5 and 6 could be increased in size to make easier to view

Section 3.2.1, small-scale ? this statement needs clarification as I would believe they are large-scale

Section 3.2.2 and table 2, replace word ‘meshes’ with ‘cells’,

y+ should be given as a range, 35 is only just in log- law layer, I assume Re is 10^8 not 108?

10^-6 not 10-6, define k1.5

Section 3.2.3 and fig 10, add comment, results as expected due to wind profile change with higher wind load and a lower height.

Figure 13 label, is degree correct or mode?

Page 7 typo, dimensionless and dimensionless

Page 10, wind speed and displacement do not appear linear above 60m/s

Figure 19, should be on same page to aid clarity and state flow direction in text

Page 14 typo WRF model is    .  ?

 

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf