Model of wind pressure field on circular flat roofs and its application to load estimation

The characteristics of wind pressures acting on circular flat roofs have been investigated based on the data obtained from a wind tunnel experiment. A simple model of the pressure field is provided as a function of the geometric parameters of the building and the turbulence parameters of the approach flow. A discussion is made regarding the application of the model of the pressures to wind load estimations for the main wind force resisting systems of circular flat roofs, using the gust effect factor approach and the LRC method. The gust effect factor and the equivalent static loads derived from the model of the pressures are compared with those obtained from the time history of pressures and roof responses. The results indicate that the model of the pressures can be used for evaluating the wind loads in practical design.