Wind Pressure Distribution on Multi-span Semi-circular Canopy Roofs

Abstract

The present study attempts to examine the wind loads on multi-span semicircular canopy roofs. Experiment is performed inside open circuit atmospheric boundary layer wind. Experiments are undertaken for single, two, and three span semicircular canopy roofs. Wind pressures are evaluated on both upper and lower surface of the semicircular canopy roof surface model which is made up of Perspex sheet. These models are tested for seven different wind incidence angles from 0° to 180° at an interval of 30°. The wind velocity used for testing was 6.2 m/s, measured at the model height. In this study evaluated results are presented in contour plot form, graphs, and in the form of cross-sectional variation for the mean wind pressure coefficient. The roof is divided into three zones, and the resultant value for each zone is given in the form of a pressure coefficient. The study shows that maximum suction occurs at the apex on the upper roof surface for different wind incidence angle with its peak value estimated at an angle of 30°. Suction is developed at the lower canopy surface at all wind incidence angles with maximum suction observed at an angle of 0° wind incident. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.