Abstract

A wind tunnel study has been carried out to assess wind loads on patio covers attached to low-rise buildings. A 1:100 geometric scale building and patio cover model was constructed and tested for open exposure conditions. The patio cover model was instrumented with pressure taps on both top and bottom surfaces, allowing the simultaneous measurement of wind pressure/suction on each side of the patio cover. The effect of building/patio height was considered by testing three different model configurations. Local surface and net wind pressure and force coefficients are presented for each model configuration. Correlation analysis was carried out to demonstrate how wind flow on the top and bottom of the patio cover affects the total wind load. The findings are also compared to the limited design guidelines derived by current building codes. Finally, recommendations for design wind load standards and codes of practice are made.