Horizontal Wind Loads on Open-Frame, Low-Rise Buildings
Publication: Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 1
Abstract
Wind tunnel tests of open-frame, low-rise buildings were carried out to determine the drag (base shear) and bracing loads in the direction normal to the frames (parallel to the ridge). In total, 18 configurations were examined in an open country terrain at a scale of 1:100. The worst wind angles for all configurations are between 0°–40° with 20°–30° typically yielding slightly higher loads, 0° being parallel to the ridge. The largest load coefficients are observed for the smallest frame buildings, consistent with observations for enclosed buildings, which is due to three-dimensional (edge) effects. The solidity ratio has a clear effect on the load coefficients with higher coefficients for lower solidity, similar to the behavior observed on lattice frames or trussed towers. However, when these coefficients are multiplied by the solidity ratio, so that they can be directly compared to enclosed building coefficients, it is clear that the total load increases monotonically with solid area. Bracing was observed to take up to 75% of the total drag load. An empirical model was developed for obtaining design loads.
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Acknowledgments
The writers gratefully acknowledge the support provided for this work by the UNSPECIFIEDMetal Building Manufacturers Association, and in particular, many useful discussions with Dr. Lee Shoemaker and Mr. Scott Russell. G. A. K. gratefully acknowledges the support provided by the Canada Research Chairs Program.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Structural Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 1 • January 2010
Pages: 98 - 105
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Dec 4, 2008
Accepted: Jun 30, 2009
Published online: Jul 2, 2009
Published in print: Jan 2010
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