Recent Research for Wind Loads on Petrochemical Structures

Abstract

Structures that are typical of the petrochemical and process industries have structural forms that confound the application of standard wind load estimation techniques. The exposed framing, partial cladding, complex arrangements of ancillaries, and serpentine piping arrangements common in these facilities are beyond the scope of standards such as ASCE 7 (2006). Nevertheless, these structures must be designed to reliably resist wind loads. In 1997 an ASCE task committee released a guide publication entitled, Wind Loads and Anchor Bolt Design for Petrochemical Structures which reported the current state of practice for estimating wind loads for these structures. This document also recommended techniques for estimating wind loads that were based on the combined experience and research of the committee members. This task committee is underway again, and a new version of the publication is expected to be produced shortly. This paper summarizes the results of a series of wind tunnel experiments and analytical investigations performed at Louisiana State University over the past few years, which are relevant to estimation of wind loads for petrochemical structures (Amoroso, 2007). Results from these studies have led to some pending amendments and revisions to the recommendations contained in the original 1997 document.