NSF Grant Number: 0800023

Project Title: Performance Based Wind Engineering (PBWE): Interaction of Hurricanes with Residential Structures

Abstract: The objective of this research project is to establish a relationship between spatially varying wind loads and structural load paths in wood-framed residential buildings. By combining wind tunnel pressure data, experimentally-derived influence surfaces from a 1/3-scale wood-framed house, and a database-assisted design methodology, researchers are predicting the load time-history on roof truss-to-wall plate connections. The predicted connection loads are compared with actual wind uplift truss load time histories measured on the scale-model home which was subjected to simulated hurricane wind flows generated using a 2,800 hp, 8-fan array Hurricane Simulator. The research results are used in concurrent projects aimed at establishing a preliminary basis for performance-based wind engineering of residential structures.

Participants: Principal Investigator: Dr. David O. Prevatt, PhD, PE Graduate Students: Peter L. Datin, PhD Student Akwasi Mensah, MS Student Jared Easterlin, MS Student Undergraduate Students Carl Harrigan Zachary Ferrall

Conference Papers:

1. “Equivalent Roof Panel Wind Loading for Full-Scale Sheathing”
2. “Interaction of Hurricanes with Residential Structures”

One closely-aligned research project that is being concurrently directed by Dr. Rakesh Gupta at Oregon State University. more..

One more closely-aligned research projects is being concurrently directed by Dr. John van de Lindt of Colorado State University.

Project Manager: Dr. Mahendra P. Singh

Project details on NSF