Evaluation of wind-induced torsional loads on buildings by North

American and European codes and standards

M. EL Sharawy, T. Stathopoulos, and K. Galal
Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, Concordia University, Montreal, QC, Canada
H3G 1M8

Abstract
Wind load provisions always require the design wind loads to be safe and economic, while
keeping them simple to be applied. The simplified methods introduced in the current standards to
predict the actual wind load effects on buildings have been studied extensively to ensure they
cover effective base wind shear and overturning moment. However, more investigation is
required to ensure that these simplified methods are adequate for predicting wind-induced torsion
on buildings. Overlooking the accurate representation of wind-induced torsional loads on
buildings may lead to unrealistic spatial equivalent wind design loads, which can be conservative
in certain situations and detrimental in others. Accordingly, accurate evaluation of wind-induced
torsional loads has a significant effect on the serviceability and survivability as well as the
economic implications of building design.
The primary purpose of this study is the investigation of wind-induced torsional loads on
buildings in order to develop more realistic design wind loads. In this paper a review, a detailed
description, and comparison of wind-induced torsion provisions introduced in the current North
American and European building standards, is presented. In particular, a comparison between
American Society of Civil Engineers standard (ASCE/SEI 7-10), National Building Code of
Canada (NBCC 2005), and European code (EN 1991) for three low and tall buildings with
different aspect ratios for an open and suburban terrain respectively will be presented along with
experimental data. The results demonstrated a significant difference between the provisions of
the three wind standards and the wind tunnel results in evaluating torsional wind loads. The
study shows for low-rise buildings, ASCE 7-10 estimates torsional loads three times higher than
those of NBCC 2005 and more than twice the torsional loads calculated by the Eurocode. It was
also found for high-rise buildings that NBCC 2005 requires equivalent eccentricity 25% while
the ASCE/SEI 7-10 and the EN 1991 require 15% and 8% respectively. This emphasizes the
need for detailed simulations, as well as laboratory and field measurements on low and tall

buildings towards the development of design load guidelines more representative of the actual
wind-induced torsional loads on such structures.

Keywords: Torsional wind loads, Low-rise buildings, High-rise buildings, Torsional moment,
Pressure distribution

References:
ASCE/SEI 7-10 (2010), Minimum design loads for buildings and other structures, published
by the Structural Engineering Institute of ASCE, Reston, VA
NBC2005 (2005), Users Guide NBC 2005, Structural Commentaries (part 4), Issued by
the Canadian commission on buildings and fire codes, National Research Council of Canada
PrEN 1991-1-4 (2004), Eurocode 1 (2004): Actions on Structures General actions Part 14: Wind actions, European Standard

Figure ( ) Simplified method-low rise buildings- maximum torsion and corresponding shear force

Figure ( ) Analytical method-low rise buildings- maximum torsion and corresponding shear force

Figure ( ) Simplified method-low rise buildings- maximum shear force and corresponding torsion

Figure ( ) Analytical method-low rise buildings- maximum shear force and corresponding torsion

Figure (

Figure (

) Analytical method-high rise buildings- maximum torsion and corresponding

shear force

) Analytical method- high rise buildings- maximum shear force and corresponding
torsion

Torsional coeff. ratio [CT /CT (NBCC) ]

8
Open terrain exposure

7
6
5
4

ASCE/SEI 7-10

3
2

Eurocode 2004
NBCC 2005

1
0
0

Figure (

0.5
1
1.5
2
2.5
Shear coefficient ratio [ CV / CV (NBCC) ]

) Comparison of the shear (CV) and torsion coefficient (CT) with the proposed
values in the studied standards for open terrain exposure