Lateral Load-minimum

[SAIL3]

I have a braced frame structure about 30' high supporting some equipment located inside a warehouse.
The seismic loads are small (.06W).....
What minimum lateral load would one design the structure for?...I would tend to use 10% of the total weight when there are no other major governing loads.
At the moment I have no info on the warehouse..like how many and how large are the openings..doors, etc...if it turns out that it is partially enclosed, then I would assume that I would have to design the structure for some wind load...right now I do not have a handle on it...
appreciate any suggestions or insights......thanks

 

[JAE]

Sometimes we think in terms of general second order effects and assume 0.02W but that is smaller than your seismic.

You could also look at the projected area and apply the interior minimum wall pressure of 5 psf but that may not be very rational.

 

[TLHS]

I've used 10% before when I'm doing a platform or something with a small load. However, generally with a braced frame on a structure that's just occupancy your brace slenderness is going to govern significantly more than your lateral load. It obviously depends on your geometry, though, and may not work out with heavy equipment.

Personally, I'd try throwing in the minimum braces for slenderness and backcheck the lateral capacity to see if you're comfortable with it.

 

[SAIL3]

thanks for the replies....your suggestions are in line with my own thinking....
I do not have any info on the warehouse at the moment but anticipate it ending up as a partially enclosed bldg....
it is located in a hurricane zone, V=110mph..
it will probably have a large door for truck access and this equipment support structure will be located in the vicinity of this door..
my question right now is what wind velocity should one use on this structure..I can see that door open or compromised in a hurricane and exposing this structure to a substantial wind loading....
does one assume that these doors are open etc or is this too consrvative..thanks again thanks for your input