Storm and Gust Duration Effects on Design Wind Loads for Glass

Abstract

Duration effects on the design wind loads for glass are examined with respect to ASCE 7-10. Pressure time histories are created by combining variations of wind speed and wind direction from a “design cyclone” with pressure coefficients obtained from wind tunnel tests of low-rise buildings. The results indicate that the assumption of a 3-s gust duration in ASCE 7-10 may underestimate appropriate values for design loads for glass, with the degree of underestimation varying, depending primarily on the probability of exceedence of the peak pressures. On the basis of these results, modifications to the peak pressures specified in ASCE 7-10 are suggested that maintain the time duration of 3-s, consistent with current glass-design provisions.