Design code, full-scale and numerical data for wind loads on free-standing walls

Abstract Following the release in 1991 of Draft BS6399, Part 2: Code of practice for wind loading, concern arose over the appearance therein of significantly increased wind pressure loadings for free-standing walls. This paper reviews the data and compares them with data from other recognised design sources, both traditional and recently introduced. The results of full-scale wind pressure measurements on two long, 5 m high masonry walls are presented together with the results from a series of computational fluid dynamics analyses on a two-dimensional wall and comparisons are made with the data from the recognised design sources which are all based on wind-tunnel results. An unsatisfactorily diverse range of data is shown to exist in the design sources. A programme of full-scale measurements is considered to be required to provide an independent appraisal of the wind-tunnel data on which existing design data are based and to establish reliable and economic loading data for free-standing walls.