Wind Analysis - Consideration of the Forces

[otto_eng]

Hi all,

I have a steel frame that is approximately 23 ft high x 64 ft wide x 45 deep. The steel frame will sit on top of a concrete roof of a residential building. The frame consists of I beams and columns simply connected, and cable bracings at the center bays, and cable bracings at the roof. The steel frame structure will support only solar panels at the top and at the sides in a way that you can think as if the frame is enclosed by these solar panels.
I did the wind calculations and based on that there is uplift and suction at the sides. So based on this analysis, I am getting pretty much uplift forces at the supports of this steel frame.
I am checking the pressure of the roof slab based on these forces but since it is all uplift, I am a bit concerned that if this is the right method.
Some might say to disregard the uplift at the steel frame and just apply the pressure on the windward and get the resulting forces at the supports, but then I would argue that the wind will blow in all directions creating an uplift at the top all the time. So it would not be realistic.

How would you guys approach to this matter? Or approached already ?

Thanks !

 

[GeorgeTheCivilEngineer]

On lightweight steel structures it's not unusual for wind uplift to be the largest absolute axial force. Snow and gravity combination usually controls for downward axial forces, sometimes access loads.

I'd consider disregarding the uplift and see what forces the bracing generates. Compare this to the snow combination forces to get a feel as to how conservative / over designed it would be if uplift was ignored for the main lateral load case. Proceed from there.