Understanding basic principles of dynamic wind loading: towards more vulnerability reduction in disaster mitigation and preparedness

by Ronwaldo Emmanuel R. Aquino and Benito M. Pacheco, 2007, Proceedings of the PICE National Convention, Cebu City, Philippines, Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE).


ABSTRACT: In the Philippines, typhoon disasters are ranked as worst natural disaster type. These typhoons generate strong winds that have damaged certain types of structures. Earlier publications have identified possible improvements in the structural design of these damaged structures to better withstand strong typhoon winds, for example in the treatment of dynamic wind effects. The current paper now does present the basic principles behind the dynamic wind loading of structures, with the hope that the reader may gain a better understanding of these principles as well as their relevance to vulnerability reduction in disaster mitigation and preparedness efforts. The paper provides general formulation on different “gust factors” used in wind loading computations, and more importantly the gust loading factor (GLF) method originally developed by Davenport in 1967 for buildings. Recent developments including the new “gust effect factor” or “dynamic response factor” are presented. Relevance to the 2001 National Structural Code of the Philippines (NSCP-2001) particularly in the dynamic wind loading of truss-type structures are next discussed, and issues in the design of these structures are presented.

KEYWORDS: dynamic wind loading, gust response factor, gust effect factor, NSCP, vulnerability reduction