Wind-induced loads on canopies attached to building walls

Very limited studies have been carried out on wind loading on attached canopies. Current versions of the Canadian code and the American standard provide a procedure for calculating the wind loading on attached canopies. These provisions include a chart to find out both upward and downward wind pressures on the attached canopy. Most past and recent studies regarding this topic have been confined to low-rise buildings. Also, the effect of canopy width has not been investigated thoroughly. Thus, structural engineers are asking for guidance in the estimation of wind loads that may act on canopies in tall buildings. This paper presents a study on the effect of wind loading on attached canopies in medium-height and tall buildings. In this study, high-rise (37 m) buildings with canopies attached to the wall at different heights were tested. In addition, canopies with different widths were also tested. The test program, which was carried out in the Wind Tunnel Laboratory of Concordia University, Montreal, shows that canopies attached at the top of a tall building may experience 70% more suction than that of a low-rise building. In addition, this paper also presents the effect of building height, canopy height, wind angle of attack and effect of considered effective area on wind loading on canopies, which will help structural engineers better understand the behavior of canopies under wind loads both in low-rise and taller buildings. Design provisions for appropriate wind forces for canopies in taller buildings are also provided to help structural engineers.