Structural and Historical Study of the Wind-Arch Interactions of the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Theme Building

Abstract

The Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) Theme Building is a culturally significant historical landmark with a complex structural history. Opened in 1961, the Theme Building is the centerpiece of LAX’s U-shaped terminal concourse. With its spaceship-like white arches, the Theme Building is a prime example of Googie architecture, a style which merged the mid-century modern style with the cultural movements of Jet and Space Ages. During its construction, wind caused the Theme Building’s unplastered steel arches to oscillate due to a phenomenon called vortex shedding. Vortex shedding occurs when air passes around a structure and vortices form in its wake. At high velocities, these vortices begin to alternately break away from the object, imposing alternating forces on the object to produce a vortex-induced vibration (VIV). Through both structural and historical approaches, this thesis investigates the structural and cultural intricacies of the Theme Building. This objective is obtained through a three-part approach. First, archival research and site visits provide historical and cultural context. Then, physical modeling and wind tunnel testing aim to visualize vortex shedding. Finally, mathematical modeling evaluates the role of the arches’ plaster skin in damping VIV. As a result, the historical context establishes the building as a culturally and architecturally significant monument. More importantly, the structural research visualized turbulent wind behavior in wind tunnel tests and evaluated the underdamped behavior of the arch with and without plaster. These results relate the Theme Building’s historical significance with its wind interactions and damping behavior to understand how structure will be preserved for future generations.