Database-Assisted Wind Load Capacity Estimates for Low-Rise Steel Frames

Published

December 1, 2002

Author(s)

S Jang, L L. Lu, Fahim H. Sadek, Emil Simiu

Abstract

A comparative study is presented of the estimated wind load capacities of low-rise steel building frames based on loading patterns (magnitude and distribution) established from aerodynamic databases on the one hand, and on patterns specified in the ASCE 7 Standard on the other. The estimated capacities are based on the assumption, verified by numerous sets of calculations, and also used in the development of the ASCE 7 Standard, that the most unfavorable wind load occurs at the instant in time when the peak knee-joint bending moment is attained. The estimates are obtained from detailed inelastic finite-element analyses of the frames with ultimate states associated with local and global instabilities. It is shown that the estimates based on the aerodynamic database are more realistic and risk-consistent and can therefore lead to safer designs at lower costs. These estimates represent a significant advance over the ASCE 7 Standard-based estimates.

Citation

Journal of Structural Engineering--ASCE

Volume

128

Issue

No. 12

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

building codes, building technology, database-assisted design, finite element analysis, nonlinear analysis, reliability, steel structures, ultimate strength, wind force

Citation

Jang, S. , Lu, L. , Sadek, F. and Simiu, E. (2002), Database-Assisted Wind Load Capacity Estimates for Low-Rise Steel Frames, Journal of Structural Engineering--ASCE (Accessed October 11, 2025)