Roof Connections in Houses: Key to Wind Resistance

Abstract

In a severe windstorm, some houses survive while others are damaged or destroyed. A first impression of this apparent selectivity is often that the storm possesses peculiar powers. The meteorological facts behind severe winds are examined. Windspeeds are translated into structural loads, and these loads are compared with strengths of some common and upgraded roof connections. It is shown that the strength of common connections may intersect various wind‐speed probability curves in the steepest part of these curves. This implies that slight changes in connection strength can provide large changes in the structural reliability of the connections.