Wind Loads on Buildings with Sawtooth Roofs

Abstract

A wind‐tunnel study is conducted to assess wind loads on buildings with sawtooth roofs. Local and area‐averaged pressure coefficients are measured on models with one, two, and four spans. The roof angle is 15° in all cases. In most regions of the roof, critical values of mean and peak suction obtained with the double‐span and multispan models are similar in magnitude to data obtained with the single‐span model. However, pressure data measured near the roof edge in the trough of the double‐span and multispan models are more than 50% larger than corresponding data obtained with the single‐span model. Positive pressures measured on walls of the sawtooth models are similar in magnitude to those obtained with the monosloped roof model. However, positive pressures measured in the trough region of the sawtooth roof are significantly larger than corresponding data for the monosloped roof. Local pressure data obtained in the present study are compared with design pressures for sawtooth buildings specified in the Australian standard. Peak suctions and positive pressures are generally larger than the values given in the Australian standard.