Aerodynamic and codification study of low-rise buildings: Part II – Partially elevated structures

Abstract

This study constitutes part II of an extensive study where the aerodynamics of elevated buildings is investigated using large-scale wind tunnel testing. Part II focuses on the case of elevated buildings with partially enclosed spaces beneath the elevated floor. For this purpose, four 1:10 scaled models of elevated single-story gable-roof buildings were selected, three of which were partially elevated with enclosed regions covering areas ranging from 19% to 54% of the model footprint. The tests aimed to examine the effect of the enclosed regions below the floor on the distribution of the localized peak pressure coefficients on the walls, floor, and roof surfaces of the models. Furthermore, the study evaluates the ASCE 7–22 provisions and the proposed provisions, presented by the authors in Part I, for estimating external wind pressure coefficients acting on the floor, roof, and walls of elevated buildings. The results indicate that enclosed regions below the floor significantly alter the aerodynamics of elevated low-rise buildings and could increase the wind-induced loads on the roof and walls of such structures, with the increase in some cases exceeding 80%. Furthermore, the results align well with the proposed modifications by the authors in Part I to the ASCE 7 provisions for estimating the external pressure coefficients for the various zones of low-rise buildings, addressing the underestimation issues previously identified within the current ASCE standard.