Analyzing the background and resonant effects of wind-induced responses on large-span roofs

Estimating the wind-induced responses is a crucial task in the wind-resistant design for large-span roofs. Due to the complexity of the aerodynamic and structural dynamic properties, the background and resonant effects on large-span roof structures are difficult to be estimated and understood by civil engineers. This paper defines the basic response as the quasi-static response subjected to completely coherence wind load. On this basis, conceptual analyses on the background and resonant effects are carried out. Through 18336 samples of wind tunnel data on typical flat, cantilevered, cylindrical, spherical, and saddle large-span roofs, 23940 cases of parametric wind-induced response analyses are conducted. The parametric analysis results turned out to be supportive and complementary to the conceptual analysis results. Finally, the principles and empirical formula of the background and resonant factors are summarized, which leads to better understanding of the wind-induced effects on large-span roof structures for engineers. The approach can also be used for quick estimating the equivalent static wind loads in engineering practices, especially in the preliminary design stages.