Effect of wind loads on beams
Effect of wind loads on beams
(OP)
Hello Fellas!
I'm sorry I'm asking this kind of question but I'm new to STRL engineering field. The thing is, if we are designing, and wind load controls once I factored my loads how is the wind load changed from a lateral to a vertical load?? or what is it that happens during the factoring process?? because I have never seen a concrete or steel beam design taking the lateral load solely into consideration, or applying that load in the out of paper axis. All I always see is that they take the factored result (1.2DL+1.6WL) and apply it as a distributed load along the beam span and then determine the Mu. but truth is that the wind load it's affecting other axis of the beam. what happens to that wind load that is perpendicular to the beam?. Is it that because lateral loads are transferred to the structure diaphragm (slab, roof, floor, etc.) they don't take it into account for the beam design? if so, how are then beams able to take and withstand such high loads sometimes caused by the the reactions of the C&C attached to it?? I'm super confused on this.
I do really appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Hec
I'm sorry I'm asking this kind of question but I'm new to STRL engineering field. The thing is, if we are designing, and wind load controls once I factored my loads how is the wind load changed from a lateral to a vertical load?? or what is it that happens during the factoring process?? because I have never seen a concrete or steel beam design taking the lateral load solely into consideration, or applying that load in the out of paper axis. All I always see is that they take the factored result (1.2DL+1.6WL) and apply it as a distributed load along the beam span and then determine the Mu. but truth is that the wind load it's affecting other axis of the beam. what happens to that wind load that is perpendicular to the beam?. Is it that because lateral loads are transferred to the structure diaphragm (slab, roof, floor, etc.) they don't take it into account for the beam design? if so, how are then beams able to take and withstand such high loads sometimes caused by the the reactions of the C&C attached to it?? I'm super confused on this.
I do really appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Hec






RE: Effect of wind loads on beams
If you depend on textbooks only, they don't always cover all the real life cases a structural engineer has to deal with. But if you're designing exterior open framing, for example, you have to apply the lateral wind load to the directly to the member and check it as weak axis bending (and shear).
Is this always done? Probably not. But wind loads are not that big, plus the design cases (90 mph) are very unlikely to ever occur in the worst direction. Add to that the combination of full LL, plus the wind load, times load factors, and there's a built in extra capacity. BUT IGNORE THESE LOADS AT YOUR OWN RISK. Just when you get cocky, a wind load will fail a beam.
RE: Effect of wind loads on beams
Do your studs run past the beam, or just to the underside? Is your beam braced by some mechanism, i.e. perpendicular beams framing into it, bottom chord braces etc.
This is stuff that the books don't tell you, you have to learn by experience. A wise man once said to me "Follow the loads, they all must find a way to the ground somehow"
RE: Effect of wind loads on beams
Mostly this for enclosed buildings. The diaphragms are often very stiff in plane relative to weak axis beam bending.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
RE: Effect of wind loads on beams
thank you all very much for taking from your time to clarify my questions.
thanks again,
Hec
RE: Effect of wind loads on beams
RE: Effect of wind loads on beams
It's important to recognize that the load cases only specify the magnitudes of the various actions on a member. They say nothing about the directions of those actions. Vertical and horizontal load effects can, and are, combined in the same load case.
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.