Statistical estimation of direction-dependent design wind speed

Abstract This paper presents information regarding the statistical characteristics of the wind speed and direction from engineer's concern. Daily maximum wind speeds and their average directions recorded from 1964 to 1979 in Japan are used in the analysis. The windroses and the wind speeds of various return periods for the 16 directions are calculated and their characteristic features are discussed. Using the same data, prediction error of the direction-dependent design wind speeds from short records is estimated. Finally, it is found advantageous to use the direction-dependent wind speed in assessing the design wind speed corresponding to rather short return periods, say less than several years, even in the case that only 1- or 2-years records are available and that the prediction error is included.