WIND FORCE PROCEDURE

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 1

 WIND LOADS
The evaluation of the effects of wind on an object in its path is a
complex problem in aerodynamics. When the wind blows against
a structure, it exerts a pressure on the windward side and a
suction on the leeward side. Every structure shall be designed and
constructed to resist the wind effects. The wind load provisions
are now presented in Sections 207A through 207F .
 Section 207A provides the basic wind design parameters that
are applicable to the various wind load determination
methodologies outlined in Sections 207B through 20F. This
includes definitions, basic wind speed, exposure categories,
internal pressures, enclosure classification, gust-effects,
topographic factors , and among others.

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 2

  Section 207B discusses about Directional Procedure for
Enclosed, Partially Enclosed, and Open Buildings of all heights.
 Section 207C discusses about Envelope Procedure for Enclosed
and Partially Enclosed Low-Rise Buildings less than 18 m in
height.
 Section 207D discusses other Structures and Building
Appurtenances: A single section is dedicated to determination of
wind loads on non-building structures such as signs, rooftop
structures, and towers.
 Section 207E discusses about Components and Cladding loads in
a single section. Analytical and simplified methods are provided
based on the building height.
 Section 207F discusses about Wind Tunnel procedure.

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 3

 DEFINITIONS
 Basic Wind Speed, V is a three-second gust speed at 10 m above the
ground in Exposure Category C.
 Building, Enclosed is a building that does not comply with the
requirements for open or partially enclosed buildings.
 Building, Open is a building having each wall at least 80% open, i.e.,
 Building, Partially Enclosed is a building that complies the following
conditions:
 The total area of openings in a wall that receives positive external
pressure exceeds the sum of the areas of openings in the balance of the
building envelope (walls and roof) by more than 10 percent.
 The total area of openings in a wall that receives positive external
pressure exceeds 0.37 m2 or 1 percent of the area of the wall, which
ever is smaller, and the percentage of openings in the balance of the
building envelope does not exceed 20%.

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 4

 The conditions of partially enclosed buildings can be expressed as follows:
1.
2. or whichever is smaller, and .
where:
total area of openings in a wall that receives positive external
pressure in m2
the sum of the gross areas of openings in the building envelope
(walls and roof) in m2
the sum of the areas of openings in the building envelope (walls and
roof) not including in m2
the sum of the gross surface areas of the building envelope (walls
and roof) not including in m2

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 5

  Building, Low Rise is an enclosed or partially enclosed building that complies
the following conditions:
 The mean roof height is less than or equal to 18 m.

 The mean roof height does not exceed the least horizontal dimension.

 Main Wind-Force Resisting System (MWFRS) consist of a structural frame or

assembly of structural elements that work together to transfer wind loads
acting on the entire structure to the ground. Structural elements such as cross-
bracing, shear walls, and roof diaphragms are part of MWFRS.
 Claddings include wall coverings, curtain walls, roof coverings, exterior
windows (fixed and operable) and doors as well as overhead doors.
 Diaphragm in wind load applications had been added in ASCE -10. This
definition, for the case of untopped steel decks, differs somewhat from the
definition used in Section 12.3 of ASCE 7-10 because diaphragms under wind
loads are expected to remain essentially elastic.
 Wind-Borne Debris Regions are defined to alert the designer to areas requiring
consideration of missile impact design. These areas are located within tropical
cyclone prone regions where there is a high risk of glazing failure due to the
impact of wind-borne debris.

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 6

  Building, Low Rise is an enclosed or partially enclosed building that
complies the following conditions:
 The mean roof height is less than or equal to 18 m.

 The mean roof height does not exceed the least horizontal dimension.

 Main Wind-Force Resisting System (MWFRS) consist of a structural

frame or assembly of structural elements that work together to transfer
wind loads acting on the entire structure to the ground. Structural
elements such as cross-bracing, shear walls, and roof diaphragms are
part of MWFRS.
 Claddings include wall coverings, curtain walls, roof coverings, exterior
windows (fixed and operable) and doors as well as overhead doors.
 Diaphragm in wind load applications had been added in ASCE -10. This
definition, for the case of untopped steel decks, differs somewhat from
the definition used in Section 12.3 of ASCE 7-10 because diaphragms
under wind loads are expected to remain essentially elastic.

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 7

 VELOCITY PRESSURE,
The velocity pressure evaluated at height shall be calculated by the
following equation:

𝑞 𝑧 =0.613 𝐾 𝑧 𝐾 𝑧𝑡 𝐾 𝑑 𝑉 2 ( N / m2 )

where:
wind directional factor (Table 207A.6-1)
velocity pressure exposure coefficient
topographic factor
basic wind speed
velocity pressure calculated at mean roof height

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 8

 EXPOSURE CATEGORIES
An exposure category that adequately reflects the characteristics of
ground surface irregularities shall be determined for the site at which the
building or structure is to be constructed. Designer shall take into account
the variations in ground surface roughness that arise from natural
topography and vegetation as well as from the constructed features.
Exposure A. Large city centers with at least 50% of the buildings having a
height in excess of 21 meters. Use of this category shall be limited to
those areas for which terrain representative of Exposure A prevails in
the upwind direction for a distance of at least 1 km or 10 times the
height of the building or other structure, whichever is greater.
Exposure B. Urban and suburban areas, wooded areas, or other terrain
with numerous closely spaced obstructions having the size of single-
family dwellings or larger. For buildings with a mean roof height of less
than or equal to 9 m, Exposure B shall apply where the ground surface
roughness as defined by surface roughness B, prevails in the upwind
direction for a distance greater than 792 m or 20 times the height of
the building, whichever is greater.
Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 9
 Exposure C. Open terrain with scattered obstructions having heights generally less
than 9 m. This category includes flat open country and grasslands. Exposure C
shall apply for all cases where Exposure B or D do not apply.
Exposure D. Flat, unobstructed areas and exposed to wind flowing over open
water for a distance greater than 1524 m or 20 times the building height,
whichever is greater. Exposure D shall also apply where the ground surface
roughness immediately upwind of the site is exposure B or C, and the site is
within a distance of 180 m or 20 times the building height, whichever is greater.
VELOCITY PRESSURE EXPOSURE COEFFICIENT,
The velocity exposure coefficient is given by

{ ( ) f ∨4.6 m ≤ 𝑧 ≤ 𝑧
𝑧
2/ 𝛼 where:
2 .01 𝑔
𝑧𝑔 height above ground in meters
𝐾 𝑧=

( 𝑧 ) for 𝑧 < 4.6 m

2/ 𝛼
4.6 m gradient height in meters
2.01
𝑔
power law coefficient

The constants and depend on the exposure of the structure (Table 207A.9-1)

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 10

 TOPOGRAPHIC FACTOR,
The topographical factor accounts for the increased of wind speed over hills,
ridges and escarpments that is given by the formula
2
𝐾 𝑧𝑡 =( 1+ 𝐾 1+ 𝐾 2 + 𝐾 3 )
where: are given in Table 207A.8.1

For flat ground,

BASIC WIND SPEED,

The basic wind speed used in the determination of design wind loads on
buildings and other structures shall be determined based on the occupancy
category as follows:
 For Occupancy Category III, IV, and V buildings and other structures, use
Figure 207A.5-1A
 For Occupancy Category II buildings and other structures, use Figure 207A.5-1B

 For Occupancy Category I buildings and other structures, use Figure 207A.5-1C

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 11

 MAIN WIND FORCE-RESISTING SYSTEM
ENCLOSED AND PARTIALLY ENCLOSED RIGID BUILDINGS
The design wind pressures for the MWFRS of buildings of all heights shall be
determined by the equation:

where:
for windward walls evaluated at height above the ground
for leeward walls, side walls, and roofs evaluated at mean height of the roof
for windward walls, side walls, leeward walls and roofs of enclosed
buildings and for negative internal pressure evaluation in partially
enclosed buildings
for positive internal pressure evaluation in partially enclosed buildings
where height is defined as the level of the highest opening in the
building that could affect the positive internal pressure. For buildings
sited in wind-borne debris regions, glazing that is not impact resistant
or protected with an impact resistant covering shall be treated as an
opening.
Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 12
 For positive internal pressure evaluation, may conservatively be evaluated at
height .
gust-effect factor w/c depends upon exposure. For rigid structure,
wall or roof external pressure coefficient

internal pressure coefficient which depends upon the type of openings in the
building. For fully enclosed buildings, Here the signs indicate that either
positive or negative (suction) pressure can occur within the building.

GUST EFFECT FACTOR

For rigid buildings or other structures, the gust-effect shall be taken as 0.85 or
calculated by the formula:

𝐺=0.925
(
1+1.7 𝑔 𝑄 𝐼 𝑧 𝑄
1+ 1.7 𝑔 𝑣 𝐼 𝑧 )
where: intensity of turbulence at height

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 13

 is the equivalent height of the structure defined as but not less than for all the
building heights and are listed for each exposure in Table 207A.9-1; and shall be
taken as 3.4. The background response is given by:

√
1
𝑄=
( )
0.63
𝐵+h
1+ 0.63
𝐿𝑧

where:
horizontal dimension of building measured normal to wind direction, in m
mean roof height of a building or height of other structure, except that eave
height shall be used for roof angle less than or equal to , in m.

( )
𝜖
𝑧
𝐿𝑧 =ℓ
10
In which and are constants listed in Table 207A.9-1.

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 14

 Table 207A.11-1 Internal Pressure Coefficient,
MAIN WIND FORCE RESISTING SYSTEM AND ALL HEIGHTS
COMPONENTS AND CLADDING
Enclosed, Partially Enclosed, and Open Buildings Walls & Roofs
ENCLOSURE CLASSIFICATION
Open Buildings 0.00

Partially Enclosed Buildings

Enclosed Buildings

Notes:
1. Plus and minus signs signify pressures acting toward and away from the
internal surfaces, respectively.
2. Values of shall be used with or as specified.
3. Two cases shall be considered to determine the critical load requirements for
the appropriate condition:
i. A positive value of applied to all internal surfaces.
ii. A negative value of applied to all internal surfaces.
Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 15
 LOW-RISE BUILDINGS
The design wind pressures for the MWFRS of Low-rise buildings shall be
determined by the equation:

where:
velocity pressure evaluated at mean roof height

external pressure coefficient from Figure 207C.4-1

internal pressure coefficient from Table 207A.11-1

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 16

 PARAPETS
The design wind pressures for the effect of parapets on MWFRS of Low-rise
buildings with flat, gable, or hip roofs shall be determined by the equation:

𝑝 𝑝 =𝑞𝑝 ( 𝐺 𝐶 𝑝𝑛 ) N /m2
where:
combined net pressures on the parapet due to the combination of the net
pressures from the front and back parapet surfaces. Plus (and minus)
signs signify net pressure acting toward (and away from) the front
(exterior) side of the parapet.

velocity pressure evaluated at the top of the parapet

combined net pressure coefficient

for windward parapet
for leeward parapet

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 17

 REFERENCES
 Hibbeler, R. (2015). Structural Analysis, 9th ed. Pearson Prentice Hall

 Kassimali, A. (2020). Structural Analysis, 6th ed. Cengage Learning

 Leet, K., Chia-Ming Uang, Lanning, J., & Gilbert, A. (2018). Fundamentals
of Structural Analysis, 5th ed. McGraw-Hill Education
 ASEP (2004). Symposium on Design of Buildings and Other Structures
in Accordance with NSCP 2001.
 ASEP (2015). The National Structural Code of the Philippines, 7th
Edition. Manila: Association of Structural Engineers of the Philippines.

Melchor M. Famisan, C.E., D. Eng. 18