Structural wind engineering of high-rise towers in hurricane-prone regions

Structural wind engineering of high-rise towers in hurricane-prone regions Conference

Garber, J, Stone, G, Irwin, P. (2013). Structural wind engineering of high-rise towers in hurricane-prone regions . 417-425.

Design for wind loading is of particular importance in Florida due to the influence of hurricanes. The design wind speeds when applied to analytical code provisions result in significant wind pressures compared to other locales. This places a premium on the need for refinement of design wind loads through wind tunnel testing. Accurate measures of pressure and force coefficients, in the presence of the surrounding built environment, account for much of the benefit. Occupant comfort is also an issue, although the treatment of hurricanes can be a source of confusion. Use of lower return periods in the evaluation of comfort should address this. The Florida Building Code contains specific provisions for High Velocity Hurricane Zones that exclude the consideration of Exposure B, which would otherwise be used in many instances. Wind tunnel studies are designed to satisfy the intent of the code with respect to safety while still reflecting realistic conditions for serviceability. © ASCE and ATC 2013.