Metal Buildings
What is ‘Wind Load’ and How Do I Calculate Mine?
When moving air, i.e. wind, comes up against a non-moving object, the resulting pressure creates a force. Wind load measures how intense this force will be, given a number of factors including the dimensions of the object, in this case, a wall or building. Wind load is an important calculation when constructing any building because it will need to withstand even the most unusual and strongest gusts of wind.
Calculate Your Wind Load
VersaTube.com makes it easy for you to calculate your required wind load based on your zip code. Click on the ‘design your own’ tab and fill in your zip code. Our automated structure designer will calculate your local wind and snow loads and correctly configure your building to meet them.
Generic Formula
Want to know a little more about how we come up with these numbers? The following is a brief primer on the generic formula for calculating wind load, according to wikiHow. Just remember, it gets a little complicated as there are multiple variables like drag and other complex forces to consider in real conditions, so calculating your wind load based solely on the generic formula below would not meet building code specifications.
Wind load – F = A x P x Cd
- Where F is force or wind load
- A is the area of the object
- P is wind pressure
- Cd is the drag coefficient
To get A, we just multiply the length x width of object. To come up with wind pressure is a bit more involved. The formula is as follows:
Wind Pressure – P = 0.00256V(squared)
- Where P is pounds per square foot
- V is speed of wind in miles per hour
You can calculate the drag coefficient roughly based on the shape you are using. For example, the standard drag coefficient for a flat plate is 1.28 or closer to 2 for a larger surface like a wall, according to NASA.
With these calculations, you can roughly identify the required wind load, but you’re better off just heading over to VersaTube.com’s design tool, where you can begin to customize your next building! Have any additional questions? Give us a call at (888) 404-3605.
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