Wind Load Combinations Including Torsion for Rectangular Medium-rise Buildings

This paper presents the results of a set of wind tunnel tests carried out to examine wind-induced overall structural loads on rectangular medium-rise buildings. Emphasis was directed towards torsion and its correlation with peak shear forces in transverse and longitudinal directions. Two building models with the same horizontal dimensions but different gabled-roof angles ($0^{\circ}C$ and $45^{\circ}C$) were tested at different full-scale equivalent eave heights (20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 m) in open terrain exposure for all wind directions (every $15^{\circ}C$). Wind-induced pressures were integrated over building surfaces and results were obtained for along-wind force, across-wind force, and torsional moment. Maximum wind force component was given along with the other simultaneously-observed wind force components normalized by the overall peak. The study found that for flat-roofed buildings maximum torsion for winds in transverse direction is associated with 80% of the overall shear force perpendicular to the longer horizontal building dimension; and 45% of the maximum shear occurs perpendicular to the smaller horizontal building dimension. Comparison of the wind tunnel results with current torsion provisions in the American wind standard, the Canadian and European wind codes demonstrate significant discrepancies. Suggested load combination factors were introduced aiming at an adequate evaluation of wind load effects on rectangular medium-rise buildings.