G.16.3 Wind Load Generator
The Wind Load Generator is a utility which takes as input wind pressure and height ranges over which these pressures act and generates nodal point and member loads.
- Panel type or Closed structures
- Open structures
- Identify the panels – regions circumscribed by members so that a polygonal closed area is formed. The area may also be formed between the ground level along one edge and members along the other.
- Calculate the panel area and multiply it by the wind pressure.
- Convert the resulting force into nodal point loads.
Plates and solids are not considered in the calculation of the panel area. Openings within the panels may be modeled with the help of exposure factors. An exposure factor is associated with each joint of the panel and is a fractional number by which the area affecting a joint of the panel can be reduced or increased.
The automated load generator should only be used for vertical panels. Panels not parallel to the global Y axis (for Y UP) should be loaded separately.
Open structures are those like transmission towers, in which the region between members is "open" allowing the wind to blow through. The procedure for load generation for open structures is i) Calculate the exposed area of the individual members of the model. ii) Multiply that exposed area by the wind pressure to arrive at the force and apply the force on individual members as a uniformly distributed load. It is assumed that all members of the structure within the specified ranges are subjected to the pressure and hence, they will all receive the load. The concept of members on the windward side shielding the members in the inside regions of the structure does not exist for open structures. Members loaded as an open structure need not be vertical.