Highlights
Complete design of a structure for wind load represents a tedious task due to a great number of wind zones and load cases that must be considered in the calculations. The 3D wind load generator simplifies the design process and speed up your work.
Unless analysing canopy structures, before to use the 3D Wind Load Generator, the model of the analysed structure must have “something” – a kind of “coat” - the wind can blow against. For a model with outer walls and roof inputted as a part of the analysis model, there is nothing to care about. But, for frame structures, it is necessary to define façade and/or roof panels on which the wind load can be applied. The principle of these panels is that, while the panel itself is ignored in the calculation, any surface load defined on the panel is automatically transferred to load bearing parts of the structure. The bearing parts are either the beams supporting the panel, or edges of the panel, or vertices of the panel.
All the “coat” elements, either the straight walls and plates or panels, are categorized by their function in the building as a wall, roof, awnings, parapets. For the roof also a proper type is assigned:
This categorization is needed for automatic creation of wind zones on the “coat” elements.
In addition to the type of the “coat” elements you must specify the direction of the wind and combination of signs (+ + / + – / – + / – –) for Cpe/Cpi coefficients. It is possible to input as many wind directions and sign combinations as required.
The 3D Wind Load Generator then takes automatically care of the rest:
The generated wind zones can be viewed, edited, if required, or even input manually in the Zone Editor.
In normal working procedure, wind zones with related Cp values are automatically generated by the generator.
For the specified wind direction and Cpe/Cpi sign combination the appropriate load cases are generated. The generated load cases are added to the already existing load cases in the project and can be reviewed in the Load Case Manager.
The load in individual generated load cases can be reviewed in the graphical window. The view flags enable you to swap between seeing the Cp coefficients, the net pressure, the peak velocity pressure, and the actual load.
As specified by EN1991 1-4 Chapter 5, the forces generated by the wind friction can also be considered in the calculation.
Wind load on Canopy roofs can be applied through pressure coefficient (Cp) approach or through force coefficient (Cf) approach, as specified by Eurocode.
The 3D wind load generator is available with all its functionalities for EN 1991-1-4:2005. The 3D wind load generator is available is also available for ASCE 7-05 but this last supports only closed structures without awnings and friction load.