Full-scale aerodynamic testing of a loose concrete roof paver system

The paper presents an experimental study to assess wind induced pressure on full-scale loose concrete roof pavers by using Wall of Wind, a large-scale hurricane testing facility at Florida International University. Experimental tests were conducted on full-scale concrete pavers mounted on a test building to evaluate wind-induced external and underneath pressures acting on the pavers. The study shows that roof pavers could be subjected to significant uplifting wind forces due to negative pressures. In corner and edge areas of the roof, pressure differences produced net uplift on the pavers, at design wind speed, that was greater than the individual weight of the pavers. The study provides new insights by testing the actual roofing material at high wind speeds in a controlled environment and also showed that locking the pavers together can mitigate the issues at corners and edges by increasing the weight of the pavers that acts together to counterbalance the net uplift pressure.

► We evaluated wind induced pressure on full-scale loose concrete roof pavers.
► External pressures are comparable with ASCE 7-2005 provisions.
► We assessed the impact of cavity pressure underneath the roof pavers on the net wind load.
► The cavity resulted in a total uplift load reduction.
► Interlocking the pavers is an effective technique to mitigate failures at roof corners and edges.