Wind load shall be applied as a point load or uniform load?

[patelam]

I have a frame structure with exterior wall, so that the wind is resisted by the wall. If I were to model the frame in the software for analysis without modelling the exterior wall, then shall the wind load be applied linearly on the floor beam of the frame or it shall be applied as a point load at the joints between column and beams at floor level?

 

[CuriousBearcat]

Linear load is closer to actual loading condition than a point load.

-Just a curious engineer

 

[271828]

If you're modeling the diaphragm as rigid, then you could compute the total wind force and apply it at a master node at the center of the building.

If the diaphragm is flexible then apply it as a line load or pull the frames or shear walls as 2D elements and apply the tributary load in lb or kips.

 

[JAE]

Well this depends on how the wall is anchored to the frame in the first place.

If the wall extends from floor to floor and spans vertically then you'd probably need to apply the wind as a uniform horizontal load along the beam/diaphragm to mimic how it gets into the structure.

This also depends on your model - if there's a diaphragm included in the analysis. Placing a horizontal uniform load on a beam that has no true diaphragm effect on it can mess up your results for the beam.

You can do what 271828 suggests by placing a point load at the center of the floor - but only if the center of wind pressure aligns with the center of the diaphragm.