## 7 Discussion of Results
### Aerodynamics of High-Rise Buildings (Study 3)  
It has perennially posed a formidable challenge to accurately predict wind-induced pressures and loads on full-scale edifices through small-scale testing. This predicament arises from the contradictions in Reynolds numbers and the dearth of large-scale turbulence emulation. Empirical evidence attests that testing at elevated Reynolds numbers elicits augmented pressures compared to small-scale wind testing [27]. Prior endeavours examining buildings of akin configuration, scaled at 1:200, proved inadequate in elucidating the intricacies of pressure distribution across their surfaces [85; 86]. Experimentation with low-rise structures at higher Reynolds numbers corroborates the profound influence of its effects on peak pressures [27].  
Wall-bounded small-scale testing of tall buildings conventionally operates within the Reynolds number range of \(\text{Re}\approx 5\text{--}6\times 10^{4}\)[93]. The current investigation, however, conducted aerodynamic testing at a markedly amplified Reynolds number of \(\text{Re}\approx 1\times 10^{6}\), signifying a substantial departure from conventional wind tunnel practice. The intricate mechanisms underlying real-world structural damage are multifold. As the findings corroborate, upper-floor cladding sustains damage due to the imposition of heightened wind loads. The elevated peak pressures experienced towards the uppermost reaches of the structure align harmoniously with empirical observations of wind-induced damage to cladding elements and components (Figure 13a,b).  
Figure 13: Repercussions of high-intensity winds on cladding and glass facades of tall structures. Notably, a majority of the structural impairment manifests at elevated altitudes: (**a**) showcases wind-induced damage on the Colonial Bank building in Miami after Hurricane Wilma (modified from [94]); (**b**) displays windows of a high-rise office building adversely affected by Hurricane Wilma in Miami, Florida, USA (adapted from [95]); and (**c**) exhibits the windows of Capitol One Tower post Hurricane Laura’s impact in Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA (adapted from [33]).  
Conversely, damage to the lower-floor glass elements can be attributed to projectile debris and other complicated flow separations in the wake of a low-rise building adjacent to the primary tower (Figure 13c). Hurricane Katrina served as a poignant reminder that the primary causes for glass and cladding damage are the confluence of high wind velocities and airborne debris coursing through the urban canyon formed by windward structures [96]. A profusion of gravel, glass fragments, pitted glass surfaces, and sundry debris found both in and affixed to the buildings lend substantial credence to the conjecture that wind-borne debris is the primary cause of damage to glass and cladding. The phenomenon of falling glass, propelled along a downward trajectory, precipitates a cascading effect wherein it causes damage to the glass at lower levels, engendering a compounding impact on the windowpanes below [96].  
The outcomes presented in this paper affirms the author's conjecture that wall-bounded wind testing may underestimate critical loads, leading to cladding failure in tall structures. Furthermore, the data supplements the author's prior observations, indicating that large-scale open-jet testing of low-rise buildings yields higher pressures in contrast to conventional small-scale investigations. In aggregate, these findings underscore the pivotal role of large-scale open-jet testing as a crucial tool in designing robust structures, both low- and high-rise, capable of withstanding windstorms amidst climate change. The LSU WISE open-jet facility is poised to offer pivotal insights for the decision-making processes of architects, engineers, and policy-makers endeavouring to fortify the resilience of built environments and critical infrastructure in the face of escalating climatic risks.