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Abstract
It is principally the structural engineer who has been concerned with wind forces acting on buildings because it is his responsibility to design the structure to resist their overall effect. Recently, however, the importance of localized wind loads acting on the surfaces of buildings also has been receiving much attention. These local loads affect wall design and are a matter of concern to both the architect and the manufacturer of wall parts. The important differences between overall and local wind loads are magnitude of intensity, character, period of duration, significance in relation to building size and shape, and importance in respect to potential property loss. Complete destruction of buildings by wind action is rare, but local failures are not uncommon and, on the whole, are more costly. Because gust and shape factors are highly unpredictable, increasing reliance is being placed on wind tunnel tests and measurements on actual buildings. Both confirm that negative pressures usually exceed positive pressures on parts of wall areas. Few building codes in this country recognize this in specifying design wind loads for walls, though codes in some other countries do. The importance of terrain conditions in not reflected, either, in code provision. Codes and standards cannot be expected to provide guidance for designers with respect to unique local wind effects, but they should provide information as to loads that wall surfaces of typical buildings will likely experience. The only standard currently providing this kind of data is the Tentative Standard for Design Wind Loads on Walls of Rectangular Buildings, published by the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers. The background, purpose and features of this standard are noteworthy, and the standard is serving a useful purpose.
It is principally the structural engineer who has been concerned with wind forces acting on buildings because it is his responsibility to design the structure to resist their overall effect. Recently, however, the importance of localized wind loads acting on the surfaces of buildings also has been receiving much attention. These local loads affect wall design and are a matter of concern to both the architect and the manufacturer of wall parts. The important differences between overall and local wind loads are magnitude of intensity, character, period of duration, significance in relation to building size and shape, and importance in respect to potential property loss. Complete destruction of buildings by wind action is rare, but local failures are not uncommon and, on the whole, are more costly. Because gust and shape factors are highly unpredictable, increasing reliance is being placed on wind tunnel tests and measurements on actual buildings. Both confirm that negative pressures usually exceed positive pressures on parts of wall areas. Few building codes in this country recognize this in specifying design wind loads for walls, though codes in some other countries do. The importance of terrain conditions in not reflected, either, in code provision. Codes and standards cannot be expected to provide guidance for designers with respect to unique local wind effects, but they should provide information as to loads that wall surfaces of typical buildings will likely experience. The only standard currently providing this kind of data is the Tentative Standard for Design Wind Loads on Walls of Rectangular Buildings, published by the National Association of Architectural Metal Manufacturers. The background, purpose and features of this standard are noteworthy, and the standard is serving a useful purpose.
Date
11/1970
11/1970
Author(s)
Wayne Koppes
Wayne Koppes
Page(s)
9-18
9-18
Keyword(s)
buildings; fluctuating pressure; gust factors; wind damage; wind loads; walls
buildings; fluctuating pressure; gust factors; wind damage; wind loads; walls