Wind Load

[dik]

Any suggestions on how to apply a wind load to this. I was thinking about using the area of the top with a wind load using half the wind load value. It's not secured. Stability is provided by concrete blocks. It's going to be displayed and used by the public. The height is about 15'.

 

[jhnblgr]

My experience is with AASHTO signs and luminaries spec is what I would apply. Calculate the flat face areas and go from there. I guess you could use the shapes centroid and apply the moment arm to the base and figure the resisting moment required

 

[JStephen]

There's potentially a bunch of stuff vibrating up there, as well as the overall structure.
Why the "half the wind load value"?
At 15', if it blows over, that's a bit of hazard.
Can an athletic person jump up and grab a hoop?

 

[JAE]

What if a large sheet of plastic happens to blow onto the rings and create a sail? Or what if someone decides to hang a banner on it?

I'm always temped to way over-estimate the effective area of things like these.

 

[dik]

Why the "half the wind load value"?

because of the large amount of void.

 

[dik]

I'm always temped to way over-estimate the effective area of things like these.

Thanks JAE...

Can an athletic person jump up and grab a hoop?

Not likely... get a Darwin award. I think I will use the full wind load.

 

[dik]

There's potentially a bunch of stuff vibrating up there,

I think the 'structure' is pretty stiff; I don't think dynamics will be an issue.

 

[HTURKAK]

I was thinking about using the area of the top with a wind load using half the wind load value

Your approach reasonable . I would go with component force coefficients and use the effective area and apply solidity ratio.
Typical Cf could be 2.0 and this value will be divided to solidity ratio ε = As / Ag say if ε=0.33 Cf=2.0/0.33 =6.0 and this value would be applied to net area As.
I would suggest you to look Wind Loads for Petrochemical and Other Industrial Facilities-ASCE.