Large-Scale Wind Testing on Roof Overhangs for a Low-Rise Building

Abstract

Roof overhangs are prone to wind damage because they are subject to wind load at both the upper and bottom surfaces. Wind standards assume that the pressure at the bottom covering of a roof overhang will be the same as the external pressure coefficient on the adjacent wall surface. A large-scale experimental campaign was carried out at the Wall of Wind (WOW) Research Experimental Facility to investigate the validity and possible limitations of such assumptions. The experimental setup considered two 1:10 scaled models [0.61 m (2 ft) and 1.83 m (6 ft) inclined overhangs with a soffit] of a low-rise hip roof building with roof slope 4:12, eave height of 7.5 m (24 ft), and horizontal dimensions of 12.2 m (40 ft)× 15.24 m (50 ft). The two models were tested for open terrain for 40 wind directions (WDs). The study provided information on pressure variations at the top and bottom surfaces of overhangs, adjacent roof areas, and underneath walls. Pressure and correlation coefficients were generated between soffits and underneath walls to quantify the effect of overhang width. The research showed that the 0.61 m (2 ft) overhang experienced higher suction coefficients at the edges compared to the 1.83 m (6 ft) overhang. In addition, the results confirmed that, for both configurations, soffit positive pressure coefficients may be assumed to be equal to the adjacent wall external pressure, as stated by a common standard, while this might not be applicable for negative pressure coefficients. Correlation and regression analyses between soffit pressure taps and wall upper taps show that the 1.83 m (6 ft) soffit appeared to be less correlated with the wall upper taps, compared to the 0.61 m (2 ft) soffit. Finally, area-averaged pressure coefficients for overhangs and adjacent roof areas were compared to the provisions in one standard for each specified zone, and differences were found.