ABSTRACT
For the prediction of a building’s dynamic response at various wind speeds and directions, it is necessary to know the natural modes of vibration of the structure, including the natural frequencies and modal deflection shapes. The natural frequencies and mode shapes may be computed using a number of available commercial finite element software packages. However, the results will be influenced by the assumptions made when developing the finite element model. The Sector Velocity method improves on the Non-Directional method by applying a different design velocity to each sector of wind direction, using higher wind velocities for directions of higher probability for strong winds. The focus of the Non-Directional and Sector Velocity methods is on extreme wind speeds, while what are needed in the end for design are extreme load effects.
