Large-Scale Wind Tunnel Tests of Canopies Attached to Low-Rise Buildings

Abstract

Canopies attached to residential and other buildings are predominantly lightweight structures with both surfaces exposed to the wind; therefore, their design is mostly governed by wind-induced loads. Currently, only limited information exists for the design of attached canopies against wind action in building codes and wind standards, which justifies the need to further investigate the wind effects on these structures to establish reliable design recommendations. The pressure distribution on the canopy surfaces, as well as the net component, is highly affected by the wind field around the canopy; therefore, its dimensions, location, and wind direction need to be considered. To investigate the effects of these parameters, in this study, a set of six 1:6 scaled model configurations of a low-rise building with different attached canopy dimensions and locations were tested at boundary-layer flow in the Wall of Wind Research Facility at Florida International University. The results are presented as local and area distributed pressure coefficients on the upper and lower surfaces of the canopy as well as net values. The interpretation of the experimentally acquired data revealed that the increase of the installation height of the canopy can lead to higher net suction pressures on its surface, whereas the length and horizontal location of the canopy will not significantly affect the peak wind-induced pressures. Finally, the results were utilized to develop envelope lines for codification purposes, which were also compared to the limited available studies and design provisions.