Wind Tunnel and Uniform Pressure Tests of a Standing Seam Metal Roof Model

Abstract

A simplified model of a standing seam metal roof was tested to failure under both uniform and wind tunnel pressures. The model was designed to fail at clips that were calibrated to a scaled strength based on full-scale testing performed at Mississippi State University. The goal of the study was to quantify the relationship between uniform uplift pressure used in standard test procedures and the dynamic pressures that occur during real wind loading that cause failure. An effective external pressure coefficient was formed based on the uniform pressure and mean roof height wind speed that were required to fail the model. This coefficient was compared with