Assessment of Wind Load Factors for Hurricane-Prone Regions.

Published

January 1, 1998

Author(s)

Emil Simiu, T M. Whalen

Abstract

We study the issue of whether the wind load factors specified in the ASCE 7-95 Standard for hurricane-prone regions on the one hand and extratropical storm regions on the other are mutually consistent with respect to risk. We consider structures or elements whose design is governed by wind loads and for which wind directionality effects are not significant. We present estimates according to which ASCE 7-95 Standard provisions for wind loads inducing the design strength results in (1) safety levels that are considerably lower for hurricane-prone than for extratropical storm regions, and (2) estimates of mean recurrence intervals of hurricane wind loads inducing the design strength of about 500 y if epistemic uncertainties are neglected, and significantly lower than 500 years otherwise.

Citation

Structural Safety

Publisher Info

, -1

Pub Type

Book Chapters

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Local Download

Keywords

wind engineering, wind velocity, weather effects, building technology, codes, standards, structural reliability

Citation

Simiu, E. and Whalen, T. (1998), Assessment of Wind Load Factors for Hurricane-Prone Regions., Structural Safety, , -1, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=916741 (Accessed October 14, 2025)