Abstract

The characteristics of cladding and structural loads for 4:12-sloped hip-roofed low-rise buildings with rectangular, L- and T-shaped plans are examined, based on wind tunnel data and three-dimensional linear computational models. Regarding cladding loads, the rectangular gable roof incurs more considerable local suction, compared with the rectangular hip roof. However, due to building plan configurations, intense suction and positive pressure are distinctly distributed on roofs and walls around building re-entrant corners of hip-roofed non-rectangular buildings. Considering structural loads, very high pressures act on the gable-roofed end frame, compared with those on the corresponding hip-roofed frames. Furthermore, the building plan impact on structural load patterns varying with wind directions and on most critical values is clear. Particularly, the most critical structural loads acting on intermediate and penultimate frames of wings of L-shaped hip-roofed buildings and side wings of T-shaped cases, show a 25% maximum increase. However, regarding the central wings of T-shaped buildings, results generally fall within the same range with those of the rectangular and L-shaped buildings. In addition, the structural connections and boundary conditions significantly influence structural load magnitudes and distribution shapes. Finally, the effect of horizontal aspect ratios on both cladding and structural loads is found to be minimal.