Snow Loads on Non-Building Structures
Publication: Structures Congress 2012
Abstract
It is not uncommon to have petrochemical facilities such as refineries, natural gas processing facilities and pipe line projects located in cold and arctic regions. The snow and ice considerations of the non-building structures and the components present unique design considerations for engineers. Non-building structures such as pipe bridges, pipe racks, multi level open equipment structures, storage tanks, electrical cable tray, air coolers, and equipment supporting structures retain snow differently than buildings. ASCE 7 does not have specific provisions for snow and ice on non building structures and components. Process Industry Practices (PI) and American Petroleum Institute (API) recommendations do not give comprehensive design procedures or guidelines for calculating snow and ice loads on non-building structures and components. Engineering judgment is used for adapting the snow and ice provisions for buildings to non-building structures. Calculation of the snow and ice loads becomes even more critical if the facility in a high seismic zone due to the added seismic mass. This paper provides recommendations for calculating the snow and ice loads for non-building structures and components based on the knowledge and experience of the authors. Snow loading on specific non-building structures are examined and recommendations based on current industry practices are presented
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Copyright
© 2012 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Jul 11, 2012
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Climates
- Cold regions engineering
- Continuum mechanics
- Design (by type)
- Dynamic loads
- Dynamics (solid mechanics)
- Electrical equipment
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering mechanics
- Environmental engineering
- Equipment and machinery
- Ice
- Ice loads
- Load factors
- Meteorology
- Precipitation
- Seismic loads
- Snow
- Snow loads
- Solid mechanics
- Static loads
- Statics (mechanics)
- Structural design
- Structural dynamics
- Structural engineering
- Structural members
- Structural systems
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