Dynamic response of buildings to wind loads - comparing Eurocode prEN1991-1-1-4 with other current U

This paper compares dynamic building responses calculated using the Eurocode prEN 1991-1-4 (June 2003 version), the UK Wind Loading Code of Practice (BS 6399: Part 2), and a method derived using ESDU datasheets. To make these comparisons, a notional range of UK buildings was considered, as well as several parametric buildings chosen to identify specific systematic trends. For all of these buildings, the peak base bending moment and the rms acceleration were calculated, and these values provided the basis for the theoretical comparisons. As BS 6399-2 does not predict accelerations, rms accelerations obtained using EN1991-1-4 and ESDU are compared with full-scale measurements reported in the literature.

From the theoretical study, all the methods show reasonable agreement for tall buildings in open terrain. As the building height reduces and the surroundings become more urbanised, the results show increasing variations; it is likely that these variations are caused by the different velocity profiles adopted by each method. Nevertheless, when the results are compared with full-scale building acceleration measurements, prEN 1991-1-4 and ESDU predict these accelerations reasonably well.

This work was undertaken on behalf of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

Gordon Breeze, MSc, BSc(Hons)
Senior Consultant, Centre for Structural and Geotechnical Engineering, BRE