Full-Scale Wind Load Measurements on a Single-span Film Plastic-Clad Livestock Building

✍ Scribed by G.M. Richardson

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1993
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 535 KB
• Volume: 55
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8634
• DOI: 10.1006/jaer.1993.1048

✦ Synopsis

The adaptation of the semi-circular film plastic-clad horticultural "tunnel" for use as a livestock building resulted in a more aerodynamically shaped structure. Such structures experienced greater uplift and when used to house sheep, were located in more exposed sites. For reasons of animal health they were often oriented to maximize ventilation and thus wind loads with respect to the prevailing winds. A series of full-scale wind load experiments were undertaken to provide design information for this new shape of structure. To overcome the practical problem of the single-sheet cladding lifting away from the supporting frame, with adverse effects and to improve the livestock environment, a ventilation ridge slot was introduced. This caused a separation of the flow at the ridge with a consequent reduction in uplift on the building for transverse winds. Mean pressure coefficients are presented and show how such a minor building detail can have significant implications for the design. These coefficients are relevant to a European code of practice for the design of "tunnel" buildings currently in draft.