Universal Equivalent Static Wind Load Estimation for Spatial Structures Based on Wind-Induced Envelope Responses

Abstract

Wind-resistant design for large-span spatial structures is complex and difficult in practice. Existing wind-resistant design methods were reviewed and the adaptation range of each method was discussed. Though the universal Equivalent Static Wind Loading (ESWL) method could produce a universal wind load distribution that simultaneously reproduces largest load effects for all structural members of cantilevered structures, it is found that the universal ESWL method is not applicable for general space structures, such as shell structures. In this paper, a practical approach to estimate the universal ESWL based on Wind-induced Envelope Responses (WER) is presented for this problem from the structural designer's point of view. Then, the efficiency of the presented approach is illuminated with a numerical example of cylinder single layered shell. Finally, the advantages and the disadvantages of existing approaches, as well as the presented one, are compared at many aspects, such as necessary information of wind load, efficiency, convenience in practice, and so on.