Full-scale experiments to acquire wind loading data for use in the design of agricultural buildings

Abstract

A programme of full-scale experiments is being undertaken by the National Institute of Agricultural Engineering to acquire reliable basic wind load data for use in the design of agricultural buildings. Nine building geometries have been selected for the experiments from an analysis of survey data to represent the range of contemporary single-span agricultural buildings. Buildings with the selected geometries which are suitably exposed to strong winds are being found and fitted with instruments to measure wind loads. Details are given of instrumentation and data analysis techniques. The results from 5 buildings subjected to transverse winds are presented as pressure coefficients which relate wind loads to the free stream dynamic wind pressure at the ridge height of a building and may therefore be used in the design procedures of British Standard Code of Practice CP3. The distribution and magnitude of loads on roof surfaces were found to be affected markedly by roof shape, by eaves height/span width ratio and by scale, with interaction of these factors. This interaction indicates that eaves height/span width ratio and roof pitch cannot be considered as independent variables.