Wind Loads on Structures

Wind loads have to be taken into account when designing civil engineering structures. The wind load on structures can be systematised by means of the wind load chain: wind climate (global wind), terrain (wind at low height), aerodynamic response (wind flow to pressure), mechanical response (wind pressure to structural response) and design criteria. Starting with an introduction of the wind load chain, the book moves on to meteorological considerations, atmospheric boundary layer, static wind load, dynamic wind load and scaling laws used in wind-tunnel tests. The dynamic wind load covers vibrations induced by wind turbulence, vortex shedding, flutter and galloping. The book gives a comprehensive treatment of wind effects on structures and it will be useful for consulting engineers designing wind-sensitive structures. It will also be valuable for students of civil engineering as textbook or background material. It derives the theoretical background of wind loaded structures and gives practical applications for a large variety of structures, such as low rise static structures, buildings, chimneys and cable-supported bridges. The European Prestandard on Wind Actions, ENV 1991-2-4, is used throughout the book as a code reference.