Poitevin-Vera, Augusto

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    Analysis of open canopy structures with parapets under wind
    (2009) Poitevin-Vera, Augusto; Godoy, Luis A.; College of Engineering; López, Ricardo R.; Suárez, Luis E.; Zapata López, Raúl E.; Department of Civil Engineering; Bartolomei, Sonia
    A literature review shows that there is a lack of information on the wind load pressures acting on canopy structures with a parapet on the roof perimeter. On the other hand, a large number of those structures suffered catastrophic damages due to hurricanes, for example during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005. The latest version of the predominant standard and commentary for wind design in the eastern part of the US, the ASCE 7-05, introduced for the first time the issue of open structures. However, the code recommendations do not address open structures with parapets. In this research, the author addresses the problem using two different (but complementary) approaches: a numerical simulation using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel testing. Values of pressure coefficients, Cp and Cn, were obtained with the use of both methods, on top and bottom surfaces of the open canopy, and windward and leeward surfaces for parapets, showing that the obtained values had good agreement between both methodologies. With the use of CFD, parametric studies further explore different plan geometries and incremental parapet heights in order to obtain extreme Cn values. The obtained extreme values were implemented on four case studies of collapsed open canopy structures, due to Hurricanes Rita and Katrina in 2005. With the use of structural analysis software, the structural members suffering extreme stresses, were identified and compared with the actual collapsed structures on the case studies selected. Structural design procedure is suggested for the analysis of open canopy structures with parapets and is implemented on each of the cases studied.