Safety Evaluation of Low-Rise Steel Structures under Wind Loads by Nonlinear Database-Assisted Technique
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 133, Issue 4
Abstract
The design of a large proportion of the low-rise metal buildings in the United States is based on the ASCE 7-93 Standard and the use of allowable stress design (ASD). In this paper we examine, for a typical case, the question of whether such buildings satisfy requirements implicit in more recent versions of the ASCE Standard. We base our investigation into this question on all three wind loading conditions specified in the ASCE 7-02 Standard. In particular, we use the nonlinear database-assisted design technique to assess the degree of safety of a typical portal frame belonging to the wind-force resisting system of a low-rise industrial structure designed in accordance with ASCE 7-93 and ASD. The conclusion of our assessment is that the frame being considered satisfies all ASCE 7-02 requirements with respect to wind loading, but that its safety level is relatively low, and could be improved substantially at very low cost.
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Acknowledgments
This work is part of a long-range research effort conducted by the Structures Group, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, aimed at achieving safer, and more economical steel structures subjected to wind loads. Stimulating exchanges with Emil Simiu are acknowledged with thanks.
References
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Simiu, E., Sadek, F., Whalen, T. M., Jang, S., Lu, L. W., Diniz, S. M. C., Grazini, A., and Riley, M. A. (2003). “Achieving safer and more economical buildings through database-assisted, reliability-based design for wind.” J. Wind. Eng. Ind. Aerodyn., 91, 1587–1611.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 133 • Issue 4 • April 2007
Pages: 587 - 594
Copyright
© 2007 ASCE.
History
Received: Jun 9, 2005
Accepted: Aug 28, 2006
Published online: Apr 1, 2007
Published in print: Apr 2007
Notes
Note. Associate Editor: Kurtis R. Gurley
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