Wind effects of parapets on low buildings: Part 4. Mitigation of corner loads with alternative geometries

Abstract

This is the fourth paper in a series on the wind effects of parapets on low-rise buildings. This part focuses on alternative parapet geometries which can mitigate local (component and cladding) loading due to the formation of corner vortices. It was found that spoilers and porous perimetric parapets significantly reduce the loads for all areas in the corner, edge and interior zones considered. For solid parapets, raising the corner, or putting a slot in the corner are also beneficial when compared to uniform, continuous parapets. Removing the corner of a continuous parapet also lowers the loads as compared to isolated (single) parapets which end at the side wall, indicating that shortened isolated parapets could also be beneficial.