Wind effects of parapets on low buildings: Part 2. Structural loads

The present paper, Part 2 in a four part series, focuses on the effects of solid, perimetric parapets on the wind-induced structural loads on low-rise buildings. Roof and wall pressures were measured at more than 500 locations simultaneously for five parapet heights (h=0, 0.46, 0.9, 1.8 and 2.7 m in equivalent full-scale dimensions) and three building heights (H=4.6, 9.1 and 18.3 m) with plan dimensions 31.1 by 61.6 m and a 12 on 12 gable roof slope. The data were obtained in simulated open country and suburban terrain conditions, at a scale of 1:100, in a boundary layer wind tunnel. It was observed that the distance from the eaves edge to the reattachment point for winds normal to the wall increases from x/H∼0.4 for h/(H+h)=0 to x/H=1.8 for h/(H+h)=0.23. While mean and fluctuating point pressure distributions tend to decrease in magnitude with h, the increased areas of separated flow lead to increased loads for interior frames with the taller parapets.