Wind Loads with Topographic Effects

Dan Beal, EIT

 Learning Objectives
1. Review why topographic considerations are
required
2. Examine mapping data for topographic
information
3. Determine what topographic criteria needs
to be met for an increase in wind force
4. Understand what conditions determine the
topographic factor, Kzt
Why are topo considerations required?

Killington, VT
September 2014
Why are topo considerations required?

SU Slocum Heights
Residence Halls
Syracuse, NY
September 1998
 Mapping Data for Topo Info
Google Earth is more efficient and accessible (free) than
using topographic maps, but may not be as precise
Information from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
(SRTM) – joint effort of NASA/USGS
 Google Earth
SRTM started in 2000 and redone more accurately since
The latest versions used to map the United States are
designed to be accurate within 30 m (about 100 ft),
but actual results have been proven to be much closer

Google earth
elevation taken here

Actual elevation of
5,344 ft matches
Google Earth at this
location
 Google Earth
Use “ruler” tool to draw elevation profiles of topography

Website to determine coordinates from address:

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocode

Website to draw rings around point:

-make it easier to draw radial elevation profiles

http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/calculators
Google Earth Example View
 NYS References for Topo Criteria
• IBC 2015
• ASCE 7-10
– Recent changes to wind speeds, approximately same
wind force

• NYS Division of Building Standards and Codes

– publishes clarification of wind maps by providing
wind speeds for coastal counties of NYS to include
special wind zone

http://www.dos.ny.gov/DCEA/pdf/TBwindmaps07.pdf
 ASCE 7-05 vs ASCE 7-10
Difference explained by comparing ASD vs LRFD and looking
at velocity pressure equation: q = 0.00256 Kz Kzt Kd V2 I
 Wind Speeds
• Special wind regions
• Wind contour lines
 Wind Speeds
Useful websites:

• Shows locations of special wind regions, wind contour

lines, and wind speed lookup (ASCE 7-10 only)

http://design.medeek.com/resources/wind/basicwindspee
ds.html

• Wind speed lookup (ASCE 7-10, 7-05, & 7-93):

http://windspeed.atcouncil.org/
 Topographic Criteria
• ASCE 7-10: 26.8 Topographic Effects

• Wind speed-up over:

– Hills
– Ridges
– Escarpments
Escarpment- a cliff or steep slope generally
separating two levels or gently sloping areas
Ridge- an elongated crest of hill, characterized by
strong relief in two directions
Hill- a land surface characterized by strong relief in any
horizontal direction
What is the topo feature?
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
All of the following five conditions must be met:
(ASCE 7-10 26.8.1)

1. The hill, ridge, or escarpment is isolated and

unobstructed upwind by other similar features of
comparable height for 100 times the height of the
topographic feature (100H) or 2 mi (3.22km),
whichever is less. The distance shall be measured
horizontally from the point at which the height H of
the hill, ridge, or escarpment is determined.
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Example: SU Law College

• topographic feature: escarpment

EAST & WEST DIRECTION

(looking North)
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Example: SU Law College
• building height: 50 ft
• ½ length of feature: 707 ft (use condition 4 to calc)
• height of feature: 145 ft (use condition 4 to calc)
145 x 100 = 14,500 ft > 2 miles ∴ use 2 miles OK

WEST DIRECTION (looking North)

No features of comparable height within 2 miles

 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
2. The hill, ridge, or escarpment protrudes above the
height of the upwind terrain features within a 2-mi
(3.22km) radius in any quadrant by a factor of two or
more.

This can visually be seen in the elevation profile in the

West direction. OK
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
If the factor of two or more is not obvious, use Min.,
Avg., and Max. from elevation profile to calculate
Min = 462 ft Avg = 523 ft Max = 564 ft

(523 - 462) x 2 + 462 = 584 ft ≥ 564 ft

NG, look at other directions like we did

SOUTH DIRECTION
(looking East)
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
3. The structure is located as shown in Fig. 6-4 in the
upper one-half of a hill or ridge or near the crest of
an escarpment.
• example located 211 ft from crest (211 < 707) OK
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
4. H/Lh ≥ 0.2
Lh = 1414/2 = 707 ft H/Lh = 145/707 = 0.21 ≥ 0.2
OK

H
Lh

WEST DIRECTION
(looking South)
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
If the slope requirement is met an alternate method
may be needed to determine height of feature when
site is surrounded by hills:

Source: http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/e4e69a39#/e4e69a39/19
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Example using the South direction:
Min = 462 ft Avg = 523 ft Max = 564 ft

H = 564 – 523 = 41 ft

SOUTH DIRECTION
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
5. H is greater than or equal to 15 ft (4.5 m) for
Exposure C and D and 60 ft (18 m) for Exposure B.

Exposure is determined for the two 45° sectors

extending either side of the selected wind direction
(ASCE 7-05 26.7.2)

Must understand surface roughness categories before

exposure categories can be used
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Surface Roughness A: [deleted as of ASCE 7-02] highly
built up urban areas (≥ 50% buildings taller than 70 ft),
calculate under Method 3: Wind Tunnel Procedure
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Surface Roughness B: wooded, urban, and suburban
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Surface Roughness C: open terrain with scattered
obstructions having heights generally less than 30 ft
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Surface Roughness D: flat, unobstructed areas and
water surfaces outside hurricane prone regions
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Exposure B: surface roughness B for at least 2,600 ft or 20
times the height of the building, whichever is greater

Exposure C: all cases where Exposure B and D do not apply

Exposure D: surface roughness D for at least 5,000 ft or 20

times the height of the building, whichever is greater

Exposure D also extends into surface roughness B and C

600 ft or 20 times the height of the building, whichever is
greater
What is the exposure category?
 Conditions to Include Topographic
Effects in Design
Back to SU Law
College example:

West direction =
Exposure B since
urban and suburban
H = 145 ft ≥ 60 ft OK

All five conditions met

 Topographic Factor, Kzt
If all conditions met: Kzt = (1 + K1K2K3)² using Figure 26.8-1

If NOT all conditions met, Kzt = 1.0

K1 = accounts for shape of topographic feature and

maximum speed-up effect

K2 = accounts for reduction in speed-up with distance

upwind or downwind of crest

K3 = accounts for reduction in speed-up with height above

local terrain
 Topographic Factor, Kzt
At what location on a topographic feature and on a
building is the factor going to be the greatest?

Source: http://www.oas.org/dsd/publications/unit/oea66e/ch12.htm
 Topographic Factor, Kzt
Kzt = (1 + K1K2K3)²

K1 = approaches zero as slope, H/Lh , decreases

K2 = approaches zero as distance from crest, x,

increases

K3 = approaches zero as height of building, z, increases

Can Kzt be less than 1.0?

 Topographic Factor, Kzt
Kzt is at height, z, of wind (varies over height)

SU Law College Ex. z = 50 ft (flat roof)

 Topographic Factor, Kzt
Figure 26.8-1 provides a table with calculated K values
for Exposure C, other exposures have to be calculated
 Topographic Factor, Kzt
Note (Figure 26.8-1): For H/Lh > 0.5, assume H/Lh = 0.5
for evaluating K1 and substitute 2H for Lh for evaluating
K2 and K3

Applies to steep slopes

SU Law College Ex. Does not apply

 Topographic Factor, Kzt
Caution: K1 is not listed in table on Figure 26.8-1, it is
determined (speed-up factor is listed)
• we will refer to this by the notation: s
Can check how K1 is found with calculated table for Exposure C
 Topographic Factor, Kzt
SU Law College Ex. s = K1 / (H/Lh)
K1 = 0.75 x (145/707)
K1 = 0.15
 Topographic Factor, Kzt
x = distance upwind or downwind of crest
μ = horizontal attenuation factor
γ = height attenuation factor
 Topographic Factor, Kzt
SU Law College Ex.

Kzt = (1 + 0.15 ∙ 0.93 ∙ 0.84)² = 1.25

Questions