Design Wind Loads for Channeling Effects

[BlastResistant]

Anyone know of a good reference that outlines the procedure for determining force effects due to wind channeling? The term "channeling effects" is used in Section 6.5.1 paragraph 2 of ASCE 7-02, but no procedure is given.

Just in case it's relevant, I'm designing a small "chapel", about 30'x30'square with an average height of about 17' fully enclosed in impact resistant glass. It's on the open 3rd floor mezzanine level of an existing hotel structure between two 50 story towers on the coast of Oahu in Hawaii.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[csd72]

To be conservative, use conservation of fluid momentum.

Take pre-constriction wind width as half the wall width each side plus the opening width.

Post constriction width is the opening width.

Wind speed will then be increased by this ratio.

This is the way I would do it.

csd

 

[BlastResistant]

Thanks csd72. That makes a lot of sense. However, just to be sure, can you please clarify "...half the wall width each side..."?

 

[BlastResistant]

Hi csd72,

My common sense just kicked into gear. Half the width of each tower on either side.

Aloha.