A Study on the Equivalent Static Wind Loadings on the Arched Roof Frames of Low-Rise Buildings in Atmospheric Boundary Layers

Abstract

A series of wind tunnel aerodynamic experiments were conducted to investigate the wind loads on the low-rise buildings with arched roofs. The wind loadings were calculated from the simultaneous measured wind pressures data over all of the models surfaces in a simulated open terrain exposure atmospheric boundary layer. With these data the equivalent static wind loads (ESWL) of fluctuating wind pressures acting on buildings frames were evaluated and the results of equivalent static wind loads were compared with the 2006 version design codes of wind loadings on buildings in Taiwan. The design codes suggested the direction of wind acting on the low-rise buildings roofs were normal to the ridges of roofs. In this study results shown, the equivalent static wind loads caused by the approaching turbulent flow may exceed the suggested values by codes. So the peak response of structural frames should be considered carefully.