Solutions for Wind-Induced Fabric Structure Failures with Case Studies in the United States Air Force
Publication: Journal of Performance of Constructed Facilities
Volume 35, Issue 5
Abstract
This case study examines seven wind-induced fabric structure failure incidents involving 57 aircraft sunshades or aircraft maintenance structures at air bases across the globe between 2011 and 2019. The failures were identified with the assistance of the Air Force Safety Center, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, and by interviews conducted by the author. The structures were a fabric on frame construction with size ranging from 740 to (7,965 to ). The frames were made from either steel or aluminum. The majority of the structures were installed on existing airfield concrete parking aprons, with the remainder installed on soil. The majority of the structures examined failed under wind speeds between 80 and (50 and 90 mph), below design wind limits in most cases. The primary causes of the failures were determined to be that the structures were procured as a commodity and not as a facility, design errors, and failure to properly maintain the structures. The objective of this paper is to characterize Air Force fabric structure failure mechanisms and to develop recommendations that will improve the safety and integrity of fabric shelters used for a broad range of government and private sector applications.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are proprietary or confidential in nature and may only be provided with restrictions:
1.
Oct 18 Aircraft Sunshade Failure BIGTOP analysis, Applied Research Associates Inc. propriety analysis. Report is available describing the modeling.
2.
A. Oquendo, Aircraft Sunshade Collapse, unpublished report, 2018. Request must be submitted to the Air Force Safety Center.
3.
T. Swigert, Aircraft Sun Shelter X-Brace Cables, unpublished report, 2012. Request must be submitted to the Air Force Safety Center.
Acknowledgments
This paper would not have been possible without the support of the Air Force Safety Center, the Air Force Civil Engineer Center, Mr. Brian Skibba, and Mr. Casey O’Laughlin for his modeling support. The technical and editorial guidance provided by Auburn University faculty Drs. J. Brian Anderson, James S. Davidson, Justin D. Marshall, and David B. Roueche are greatly appreciated. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations are those of the author and do not reflect the official position or policy of the United States Air Force, Department of Defense, or the United States Government.
Disclaimer
The analyses and conclusions presented in this article are those of the author alone, and do not reflect any analyses or conclusions by Air Force Safety Center investigations.
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© 2021 Published by American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Oct 5, 2020
Accepted: Apr 23, 2021
Published online: Aug 6, 2021
Published in print: Oct 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Jan 6, 2022
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