NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF WIND PRESSURES ON CANTILEVER GRANDSTAND ROOFS

Numerical simulation has been carried out for the prediction of wind pressure distributions on cantilever grandstand roofs. In order to demonstrate the validity and accuracy of the numerical simulation technique, a flat grandstand roof with wind-tunnel test pressure results was first considered. The computed roof surface pressures were compared with the corresponding wind-tunnel test results and overall good agreement was reached. The wind pressure distribution on a real cantilevered grandstand roof located in Zhejiang Province of China was then examined. Two different cases with 0° and 16° roof slopes were taken into account. Through analysis and comparison of the computed wind pressure results for the two most unfavorable wind directions, 0° and 180°, a simplified pressure distribution curve and the corresponding pressure determination method for this type of roof structures were proposed. The distribution curve was also compared with those recommended by relevant design codes. This simplified pressure determination method is directly applicable to practical wind resistant design of same type of cantilever roof structures.