Evaluation of ASCE 7-10 Wind Velocity Pressure Coefficients on the Components and Cladding of Low-rise Buildings Using Recent Wind Tunnel Testing Data

Published

August 2, 2015

Author(s)

Dat Duthinh

Abstract

In the USA, wind loads for building design are specified in a publication of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE 7). The current version, ASCE 7-10, relies on wind tunnel tests that date back 30 to 50 years. In recent decades, many more test results have become available, and advances in computer technology have allowed the simultaneous recording of many more pressure taps than was possible half a century ago. In an effort to update the wind velocity pressure coefficients on the components and cladding of low-rise buildings, we made use of the wind tunnel tests performed at Tokyo Polytechnic University (TPU). Pressure tap locations and time history data were used to calculate peak wind pressure coefficients for a comprehensive sweep of sample areas. The peak pressures were estimated based on Rice’s zero up-crossing method applied to a 60-minute (full scale) windstorm. This process was repeated over all of the wind directions available from the wind tunnel tests. By sampling relevant area combinations with their contributing taps, we obtained a curve relating the effective wind velocity pressure coefficient versus area. Preliminary results show that the current ASCE specifications for components and cladding of gable roofs on low-rise buildings are unconservative.

Proceedings Title

6th Int. Conf. on Advances in Experimental structural Engineering
11th Int. Workshop on Advanced Smart Materials and Smart Structural Technology

Conference Dates

August 1-2, 2015

Conference Location

Urbana, IL

Pub Type

Conferences

Keywords

Wind pressure coefficients, low-rise gable building, Voronoi diagram, tributary area, ASCE 7

Citation

Duthinh, D. (2015), Evaluation of ASCE 7-10 Wind Velocity Pressure Coefficients on the Components and Cladding of Low-rise Buildings Using Recent Wind Tunnel Testing Data, 6th Int. Conf. on Advances in Experimental structural Engineering 11th Int. Workshop on Advanced Smart Materials and Smart Structural Technology, Urbana, IL (Accessed April 26, 2024)