Stability-Based Equivalent Static Wind Loads on Large-Span Snowy Roofs

To avoid the dynamic instability of roofs in snowstorms, a method of stability-based equivalent static wind loads was presented. Snowdrifts on roofs are firstly simulated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The state of dynamic instability of the snowy roof is determined by the Budiansky-Roth criterion. Then, the computational theory of stability-based equivalent static wind loads is constructed by referring to the principle of the gust loading factor method. Finally, the theory is applied to a real double-layer cylindrical reticulated shell. The results show that the snowy roof takes on evident instability under strong winds, and would become dynamically unstable when the wind velocity is 1.0 times the basic wind velocity. The critical wind velocity for wind-induced dynamic instability of snowy roofs, which is 35.8 m/s for the shell, can be obtained by static stability analysis using the proposed method.