Wind Engineering Coursework 1

Barbara Masson
Erasmus Student
Civil, Structural and Environmental engineering 12th of November 2021
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Figure 1 : Structure on which we have to calculate the wind actions
Figure 2 : Athlone location on the Irish map
We are asked to determine the total bending moment due to wind at
the base of the north and south masonry walls of this apartment
building structure (Figure 1) located in the suburbs of Athlone, Ireland,
2km inside town terrain (Figure 2).
To do this, we have to follow the Eurocode calculation method, in order
to first determine the pressure coefficient values on the different zones
over the building, and then deduce the corresponding total wind
forces.
Finally we will be able to calculate the total bending moment due to
wind.
But first, let’s check the applicability of the Eurocode to our structure.
We have an ordinary building, which height (20m) is less than 200m.
This is a conventional structural system with a simple shape and a quite
small extension. Thanks to those criteria, we can represent the load
due to the turbulent wind with equivalent static forces: we are going to
use the Eurocode quasi-static approach.
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1. Climate

Figure 3 : Map of fundamental basic wind velocity

values vb,map [m/s] before the altitude correction is applied

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2. Exposure

Figure 4: Determination of the exposure factor

Figure 5: Selection of the right terrain category

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We find the same peak velocity pressure considering
those two methods, thus, we can keep on considering
the aerodynamics parameters.
3. Aerodynamics
For our building we have : h=20m, b=12m, and d=10m.

As b < h < 2b, we have to choose a 2 parts building

reference heights as shown on Figure 6 below.

We have e = b or 2h, we take the smaller : e = b = 12m.

Figure 6: Two parts building

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We base ourselves on those reference dimensions to determine the external pressure coefficients (Cpe) on different
zones of our structure, first on the vertical external walls. Besides, as all loaded area are greater than 10m², when we
determine the pressure coefficient, we have to consider the Cpe,10. Furthermore, we have h/d=20/10=2, thus, we
have to interpolate, basing our calculation on the table hereunder.
A
B
-1.2 -0.8

Figure 7: External pressure coefficients, for vertical walls of rectangular D2 e/5 = 2.4m 7.6m E
plan building

8m
+0.8
Wind -0.55
D1
Plan

+0.8 Ze,1 = b = 12m

Figures 8 and 9: Location of A, B (along wind) D (windward) and E Figure 10: Corresponding external pressure coefficients on those zones
(leeward) zones and reference dimensions 6
We continue our calculation with the zones on the flat roof: F
-1.8 H -0.7 I ±0.2

Wind

Figure 11: External pressure coefficients, for a flat roof with sharp eaves End bays

e/10 = 1.2m e/2 - e/10 = 4.8m 4m

G
-0.7 H -0.7 I ±0.2

Wind

Internal bays

Figures 12 and 13: Location of F, G, H and I zones

Figure 14 and 15: Corresponding external pressure coefficients on those
zones, on the flat roof of our structure
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4. Dynamics

We obtain the following results :

A B D1 D2 E F G H I
qp (N/m²) 0.956 0.956 0.956 0.956 0.956 0.956 0.956 0.956 0.956
Cpe -1.2 -0.8 +0.8 +0.8 -0.55 -1.8 -0.7 -0.7 ±0.2
We (N/m²) -1.15 -0.76 0.76 0.76 -0.53 -1.72 -0.67 -0.67 ±0.19
K factor 0.8 2.53 4 4 4 1 2 4 4
Aref (m) 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3
Fwe (KN/m) -2.76 -5.8 9.12 9.12 -6.36 -5.16 -4.02 -8.04 ±2.28
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Table 1 : Calculation steps and final results of the wind action on each zone of our structure
 F
-5.16 H -8.04 I ±2.28
A
B
-2.76 -5.8
Wind
D2 e/5 = 2.4m 7.6m E
End bays

9.12
Wind e/10 = 1.2m e/2 - e/10 = 4.8m 4m

D1 -6.36 G
-4.02 H -8.04 I ±2.28
Plan

9.12
Wind

Internal bays

Figures 16 to 18: Corresponding external wind force on each zone of our structure (KN/m)
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Let’s now determine the bending moment to the wind at the base of north and south side masonry walls. The only
forces responsible for this moment are the resulting forces on zone A and zone B of north and south façades. Indeed,
the other forces are axial forces and don’t have any impact on the bending moment of those north and south walls.
We have to calculate the moment they generate at the base of those walls, if we consider that they apply themselves
at the centre of each zone (zf = 10m).

B
A

Wind

Fb

E Fa

zf= 10m

Bending Moment Thus, the total bending moment at the base of

D the north and south masonry walls is -1712
Figure 19: Resulting forces on the south (or north) wall, as
well as the bending moment generated KN.m. 10