structural design of a helipad 1

[hsn199]

i am doing a model in etabs for a tower of 24 story at top roof their is a helipad, i am wondering about the design criteria like load value i should take it , and the impact of the helicopter when landing.
i searched a lot for a manual for structural design for helipad i didn't found anything at all so i apologize your help
thank you

 

[hokie66]

You need to get information on the various types of helicopters which will be using the pad. You won't get that in a "manual for structural design", but rather from the helicopter manufacturers.

 

[blihpandgeorge]

there used to be some helipad design loads in one of the old UBC codes, UBC 97 i believe. From memory the load is a function of the helicopter mass so you will need to define the size of helicopter using it.

 

[Guest262653]

There is an open thesis in Portuguese from the Technical University of Lisbon regarding the structural design of an elevated helipad for a EH-101 Merlin.

Try the following link:

https://dspace.ist.utl.pt/bitstream/2295/218822/1/Luis Pereira AFA-1061.pdf

Although it is in Portuguese, maybe you can take something of it.
Hope it helps

 

[kylesito]

I don't have the exact reference but the UFC's (Unified Facilities Criteria) are the military standards and are excellent design documents for these types of things. Again, I apologize I don't have the exact reference but you just need to look around through them and find the right one.

PE, SE
Eastern United States

"If a builder builds a house for someone, and does not construct it properly, and the house which he built falls in and kills its owner, then that builder shall be put to death!"
~Code of Hammurabi

 

[hetgen]

Hi

See eurocode EC1 - section 6.3.4.2(5) & (6)

for HC1 class helicopter take of load is < 20kN x (1.4 dynamic factor) ~ 28kN.
and HC2 class helicopter take of load is < 60kN x (1.4 dynamic factor) ~ 84kN.

HTH

 

[hetgen]

Oh i forgot ... load area ~ 0.2 x 0.2m .. check the code

 

[MiketheEngineer]

Bl noted one of the older codes had values for helipads. It was rather low - or so I thought - like 50 psf.

I would take like twice the chopper load and spread it over the two skids. If it gets past about 2'gs it(the chopper) will eat itself anyway and there will be no load!!

 

[TLHS]

Out of my own curiousity, are there additional fire requirements, blast requirements or collision requirements for this kind of thing in case something goes wrong?

 

[hokie66]

Be wary of wheeled helicopters. I had the task once of reporting on a floating heliport, where a wheel made a hole and the helicopter went over the side. Again, get all the data for the helicopters as the first step.

 

[Robbiee]

The third PDF file on this link has design loads.

 

[TLHS]

I was looking up something in the National Building Code of Canada and this clause caught my eye:

"4.1.5.14. Helicopter Landing Areas
1) Helicopter landing areas on roofs shall be constructed in conformance with requirements contained in the “Airport Regulations of the Aeronautics Act” of Transport Canada."

Sure, it's not all that helpful, but it's something!