Structural Building Design: Wind and Flood Loads

Syed Mehdi Ashraf

Preference :

Lateral forces caused by winds are a major factor in the design of tall buildings. Even in locations belonging to low-wind zones, tall buildings are designed for the wind effects. The greatest wind effect is caused by hurricanes and tornadoes. Hurricane is the highest wind storm on the earth, and few natural disasters can pose as much calamity as a hurricane can. Hurricanes can make landfall with sustained winds greater than 155 mph. During their lifetime they can expend as much energy as 10,000 nuclear bombs. They are called by different names in different parts of the world. They are called typhoons in the western Pacific and China Sea area. In Australia, Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, they are called cyclones. They are named Baguio in the Philippines. Their scientific name is “tropical storm.” They are storm systems consisting of a large low-pressure center and numerous thunderstorms that produce strong winds and heavy rain. The wind rotates counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere during a hurricane. When saturated air rises, the water evaporated from the ocean is released and water vapor contained in the moist air condenses.