Misconceptions about Wind Speeds and Return Periods

Frequently, engineers have misconceptions about wind speeds and return periods, and unfortunately such misunderstandings have been regularly conveyed to non-engineers.

For example, some engineers mistake a 50-year return period wind speed as one that could occur once (and only once) every 50 years.  Or when, the 50-year return period wind speed at a site is given to be 55 m/s, and a typhoon passes the site and causes winds more than 55 m/s, engineers would think that 55 m/s is not an appropriate 50-year return period wind speed.  One other misconception is that when the meteorological agency reports typhoon wind speeds of, say, 60 m/s, this can be directly compared with code-prescribed "basic" wind speeds for design.

The following links show online "essays" discussing the above-mentioned misconceptions about wind speeds and return periods:
1. http://ronjie-engg.blogspot.com/2009/04/engineering-misconceptions-part-1.html
2. http://ronjie-engg.blogspot.com/2009/04/engineering-misconceptions-part-2.html