CIV419

Computer-Aided Structural Engineering

Wind Loads on Building Structures

Prof. Osama ahmed Mohamed, Ph.D., P.E., MASCE

Calculation of Wind
Forces on Main Wind
Force Resisting
System in a Buildings
Reference: Minimum Design Loads for Buildings
and other Structures – ASCE 7-10, American
Society of Civil Engineers, USA.
 Diaphragms: ASCE 7-10 Definition
DIAPHRAGM:
Roof, floor, or other membrane
or bracing system acting to transfer lateral forces to
the vertical Main Wind-Force Resisting System (MWFRS).
For analysis under wind loads, diaphragms constructed of
untopped steel decks, concrete filled steel decks, and
concrete slabs, each having a span-to-depth ratio of
two or less, shall be permitted to be idealized as rigid.
Diaphragms constructed of wood structural panels are
permitted to be idealized as flexible.
 Flexible Buildings: ASCE 7-16
Definition
BUILDING AND OTHER STRUCTURE,
FLEXIBLE: Slender buildings and other
structures that have a fundamental natural
frequency less than 1 Hz

Recall from Physics:

1
𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓𝑓 =
Fundamental Period
Definition: Damping
• Damping is the reduction of
wind-induced/earthquake-
induced vibration of building.
• Damping is a phenomenon that
makes a vibrating body decay in
amplitude of motion, gradually,
through various mechanisms.
• If there is no damping,
oscillation of a building (for
example) would continue
indefinitely.
:ASCE 7-16 Definition: BUILDING ENVELOPE

BUILDING ENVELOPE: Cladding, roofing, exterior walls, glazing,

door assemblies, window assemblies, skylight assemblies, and
other components enclosing the building.

It is preferred that heavy cladding, such as

CMU walls be placed on perimeter beams.
Light cladding such as glass-aluminum
façade may be placed on slab directly
 ASCE7-16: Velocity Pressure
• Irrespective of the procedure
used to determine wind loads
for buildings or structures, it is
necessary to determine velocity
pressure, q

This is the only equation

for velocity pressure in
ASCE 7-16, regardless of
the
building/structure/method
Ground Elevation Factor
 Analytical Procedures Directional Procedure.
• The design wind pressure for
• For buildings, there are two MWFRS of enclosed, partially
analytical procedures provided open, and partially enclosed
for MWFRS, buildings of any height is
• 1) the directional procedure and determined by the following
2) the envelope procedure. equation:
• The directional procedure can
be used for any building or
structure. The envelope
procedure is limited to certain
types of buildings
Internal Pressure Coefficients
Taller Buildings are Commonly Enclosed
ASCE 7 -16 Procedure for Buildings of All Heights
 Design wind
pressure for
rigid buildings
 General velocity
pressure equation
for buildings
regardless rigidity,
or enclosure
 Wind
directionality
factor for
buildings
regardless
rigidity, or
enclosure
Classification of Buildings
Terrain Exposure Constants
Terrain Exposure Constants (S.I. and U.S. Units)
Velocity Pressure Exposure Coefficient using
Equation
Exposure B: Downtown Dubai
Four Fundamental Cases to Consider for All Buildings

Design wind
pressure at each
level (varies
with height)
 Design wind
pressure at each
level (varies
with height),
including
torsion
Design wind pressure
at each level (varies
with height), wind
pressure acting in two
directions
simultaneously
Design wind pressure
at each level (varies
with height): wind
pressure acting in two
directions
simultaneously,
including torsion
Guess Effect Factor for Rigid Buildings or Other
Structures, G
 Guess Effect Factor for Rigid Buildings or
Other Structures, G
26.9.4 Rigid Buildings or Other Structures
• For rigid buildings or other structures as defined in Section 26.2, the
gust-effect factor shall be taken as 0.85 or calculated by the formula:
• where Iz : is the intensity of turbulence at height 𝑧𝑧̅
• where 𝑧𝑧:̅ is the equivalent height of the structure defined as 0.6h, but
not less than zmin for all building heights h

gQ and gv shall be taken as 3.4

Recall
:
G for Rigid Buildings: Wind Background Response, Q
Gust Effect for Flexible or Dynamically Sensitive
Buildings or Other Structures (ASCE 7 – 16, 26.9.5)
G for Flexible Buildings: Resonant Response Factor, R (26.9.5)

Mean hourly
speed (next slide)
 G for Flexible Buildings : Mean Hourly Speed

• V is the basic wind speed (m/s)

BASIC WIND SPEED, V: Three-second gust

speed at 33 ft (10 m) above the ground in Exposure C
(see Section 26.7.3) as determined in accordance with
Section 26.5.1.
G for Flexible Buildings : Constant RL
Calculating Wind Pressure
ASCE 7-16
CHAPTER 27
WIND LOADS ON BUILDINGS: MAIN WIND FORCE RESISTING SYSTEM
(DIRECTIONAL PROCEDURE)
 Recall: External Pressure Coefficient
• +ve external pressure coefficient on Windward Wall indicates pressure is directed towards
the wall
• -ve external pressure coefficients on leeward wall and side wall indicates pressure points
away from the wall
External Pressure on Roof
Step 2: Calculate the internal pressure

Internal pressure
Internal Pressure
Roof

This is the +ve internal

pressure, p

Windward
Combine external
pressure with +ve
internal pressure,
and obtain the
final net pressure.
Notice this
increases the
leeward pressure
and decreases
the windward
pressure
Combine external
pressure with -ve
internal pressure, and
obtain the final net
pressure. Notice this
increases the windward
pressure and decreases
the windward pressure