NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

PART 4 – CALCULATION OF WIND LOADS FOR BUILDINGS

USING ENVELOPE PROCEDURE
There is a special provision for MWFRS of low-rise buildings in which the wind loads are
obtained through another method known as “Envelope Procedure”. This method may be used
for as long as it meets the criteria specified in Section 207A.2 for low-rise buildings which is
as follows:

1) If mean roof height h is less than or equal to 18m (60ft).

2) If mean roof height h does not exceed least horizontal building dimension (L or B).

The design wind pressures for MWFRS of low-rise buildings are determined using the
equation:

𝑝 = 𝑞ℎ [(𝐺𝐶𝑝𝑓 ) − (𝐺𝐶𝑝𝑖 )]
where:
qh = velocity pressures evaluated at mean roof height h
(GCpf) = external pressure coefficient from Figure 207C.4-1
(GCpi) = internal pressure coefficient from Table 207A.11-1
The pressure coefficients used in this procedure are based on past wind tunnel testing of
prototypical building models successively rotated through 360 degrees under the wind loading.
The key structural actions (uplift, shear, overturning) are monitored and the maximum effects
of all wind directions are used to create an envelope of pseudo‐pressure cases.

The “Envelope Procedure” is significantly different. One can say that the wind direction does
not matter. It is a wind design procedure in which the effect of wind direction has been
eliminated and the pseudo external pressure coefficient, Cpf is lumped together with the gust
effect factor G.

Using the previous problem, determine the wind pressures for a large, one-story agricultural
warehouse building as shown below. The building data are in Table 1.
y

h' = 15 tan 10 =2.64m

x

where:

E = eave height = 7.5m 10º

h' E Ht R
R = ridge height = E+h’ = 10.14m

Ht = mean roof height

= E+(h’/2) = 8.82m
7.5m
15m
46m
15m

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 1

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Table 1
Location Occidental Mindoro
Terrain Isolated on flat terrain
Occupancy Category IV (Standard Occupancy Table 103-1)

Solution:

a) Basic Wind Speed, V

Since occupancy category is IV, refer to Figure 207A.5-1A (NSCP 2015 page 2-38)

Therefore, design wind speed, V = 240kph/3.6 = 66.67m/s

b) Wind Directionality Factor, Kd

Referring to Table 207A.6-1 (NSCP 2015 page 2-42)

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 2

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Therefore, Kd = 0.85

c) Exposure Category
Referring to Section 207A.7.2 (NSCP 2015 page 2-42)

Open and flat terrain is equivalent to Exposure C.

Furthermore, using Table 207A.9-1 (NSCP 2015 page 2-58) the Terrain Exposure
Constants will be as tabulated below,

Table 2
Exposure 𝒂 𝒛𝒈 ̂
𝒂 ̂
𝒃 ̅
𝒂 ̅
𝒃 𝒄 𝒍(𝒎) 𝝐̅ 𝒛𝒎𝒊𝒏
C 9.5 274.32 1/9.5 1.00 1/6.5 0.65 0.20 152.4 1/5.0 4.57

d) Topographic Factor, Kzt

Referring to Section 207A.8 (NSCP 2015 page 2-46)
For flat terrain, Kzt = 1.0

e) Internal Pressure Coefficient, GCpi

Internal pressure coefficients, (GCpi) shall be determined from the following table
based on building enclosure classifications determined from Section 207A.11-1 (NSCP
2015 page 2-61)

Enclosure Classification GCpi

Open Buildings 0
Partially Enclosed Buildings ±0.55
Enclosed Buildings ±0.18

For Enclosed Buildings, GCpi = ±0.18

f) Velocity Pressure Exposure Coefficients, Kz & Kh

Referring to Table 207C.3-1 (NSCP 2015 page 2-112) as shown below.

By interpolation, using z = mean roof height = 8.82m:

Kz = 0.973

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 3

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

The velocity pressure coefficient Kz may also be determined from the following
formula:
2⁄𝛼
𝑧
𝐾𝑧 = 2.01 (𝑧 ) For 4.57m ≤ z ≤ zg eq. 1
𝑔
2⁄𝛼
4.57
𝐾𝑧 = 2.01 ( 𝑧 ) For z < 4.57m eq. 2
𝑔

where:
z = height above ground level, m
zg = constant listed on Table 2
α = constant listed on Table 2

g) Velocity Pressure, qz
Referring to Section 207C.3.2 (NSCP 2015 page 2-106). Velocity pressure, qz
evaluated at height z shall be calculated by the following equation:

𝑞𝑧 = 0.613𝐾𝑧 𝐾𝑧𝑡 𝐾𝑑 𝑉 2
where:
Kd = wind directionality factor
Kz = velocity pressure exposure coefficient
Kzt = topographic factor defined
V = basic wind speed (m/s)
qz = velocity pressure calculated at mean roof height h

Therefore:

𝑞𝑧 = 0.613𝐾𝑧 𝐾𝑧𝑡 𝐾𝑑 𝑉 2 = 0.613(0.973)(1.0)(0.85)(66.67)2

= 2,253.48𝑃𝑎 = 2.25𝑘𝑃𝑎

h) External Pressure Coefficients, GCpf

The combined gust effect factor and external pressure coefficients for low-rise
buildings, (GCpf) are not permitted to be separated. It shall be determined using the
Table and Figure 207A.11.1 (NSCP 2015 page 2-110 &111).

The building must be designed for all wind directions using the eight loading patterns
shown in Figure 1 and 2. For each of these patterns, both positive and negative internal
pressures must be considered, resulting in a total of 16 separate loading conditions.
However, if the building is symmetrical, the number of separate loading conditions will
be reduced to eight. The load patterns are applied to each building corner in turn as the
reference corner.
The width of end zone surface “a” at windward corner shall be equal to 10 percent of
least horizontal dimension or 0.4h, whichever is smaller, but not less than either 4% of
leas horizontal dimension or 0.9m.

where: h = mean roof height, in meters, except that eave height shall be used
for θ ≤ 10°.

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 4

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Figure 1. Load Case A (Wind Normal to Ridge)

Figure 2. Load Case B (Wind Parallel to Ridge)

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 5

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

Table 3

Therefore:
Width “a”
Smaller of a = 2(0.1)(30m) = 6m
Or (0.4)(7.5) = 3m [governs]
But not less than (0.04)(30) = 1.2m
Or 0.9m

2a = 2(3) = 6m

For Load Case A, By interpolation using θ = 10°,

Building Surface
1 2 3 4 1E 2E 3E 4E
GCpf 0.44 -0.69 -0.41 -0.34 0.67 -1.07 -0.58 -0.50

For Load Case B using the Table as is,

Building Surface
1 2 3 4 5 6 1E 2E 3E 4E 5E 6E
GCpf -0.45 -0.69 -0.37 -0.45 0.40 -0.29 -0.48 -1.07 -0.53 -0.48 0.61 -0.43

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 6

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

i) Design Wind Pressure, p

Determine wind pressures in the transverse and longitudinal directions using the
formula:
𝑝 = 𝑞ℎ [(𝐺𝐶𝑝𝑓 ) − (𝐺𝐶𝑝𝑖 )]

For Load Case A:

LOAD CASE A (Wind Normal to Ridge)
Pressure (Pa)
Surface GCpf GCpi qh P1 P2
(N/m2) (GCpi upper (GCpi lower
bound) bound)
1 0.44 ±0.18 2,253.48 585.90 1397.16
2 -0.69 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1960.53 -1149.27
3 -0.41 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1329.55 -518.30
4 -0.34 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1171.81 -360.56
1E 0.67 ±0.18 2,253.48 1104.21 1915.46
2E -1.07 ±0.18 2,253.48 -2816.85 -2005.60
3E -0.58 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1712.64 -901.39
4E -0.50 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1532.37 -721.11

For Load Case B:

LOAD CASE B (Wind Parallel to Ridge)
Pressure (Pa)
Surface GCpf GCpi qh P1 P2
(N/m2) (GCpi upper (GCpi lower
bound) bound)
1 -0.45 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1419.69 -608.44
2 -0.69 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1960.53 -1149.27
3 -0.37 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1239.41 -428.16
4 -0.45 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1419.69 -608.44
5 0.4 ±0.18 2,253.48 495.77 1307.02
6 -0.29 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1059.14 -247.88
1E -0.48 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1487.30 -676.04
2E -1.07 ±0.18 2,253.48 -2816.85 -2005.60
3E -0.53 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1599.97 -788.72
4E -0.48 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1487.30 -676.04
5E 0.61 ±0.18 2,253.48 969.00 1780.25
6E -0.43 ±0.18 2,253.48 -1374.62 -563.37

Plus and minus signs signify pressures acting toward and away from the surfaces,
respectively.

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 7

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

j) Design Wind Loads

For Load Case A:

Because the building is symmetrical, the four loading cases provide all the required
combinations provided the design is accomplished by applying loads for each of the
four corners. We will consider the uppermost left case in Figure 1.

Note: The pressures are assumed to be uniformly distributed over each of the surfaces
shown.

1.330

1.172
1.961
1.713
1.532
2.817
Design pressures for
transverse direction
with upper bound GCpi

0.586

1.104
2a = 6m
2a

0.518

0.361
1.149
0.901
0.721
2.006
Design pressures for
transverse direction
with lower bound GCpi

1.397

1.915
2a = 6m
2a

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 8

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

For Load Case B:

Because the building is symmetrical, the four loading cases provide all the required
combinations provided the design is accomplished by applying loads for each of the
four corners. We will consider the uppermost left case in Figure 2.

Note: The pressures are assumed to be uniformly distributed over each of the surfaces
shown.

1.239 1.059

1.420
1.375
1.961
1.600
1.487
2.817
Design pressures for
longitudinal direction
with upper bound GCpi

1.420
0.496
2a = 6m 1.487
0.969
a
2a

0.428 0.248

0.608
0.563
1.149
0.789
0.676
2.006
Design pressures for
longitudinal direction
with lower bound GCpi

0.608
1.307
2a = 6m 0.676
1.780
a
2a

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 9

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng
NEW ERA UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

This procedure provided simple coefficients that yield design loads in a convenient
way. However, it should be recognized that pressure coefficients are valid when
pressures are applied to all surfaces at the same time. In addition, this procedure is
difficult to interpret when the shape of the building differs significantly from the
rectangular shape.

Since coefficients used in the directional approach and the envelope approach were
obtained through two totally different ways, the final loads obtained from the two
approaches do not match. It is not possible to reconcile the differences between the final
loads obtained by the two procedures.

Things to ponder on . . .

• Try to create your own excel spreadsheet for wind load calculation using this as
a guide. So that next time when you have a design project, you already have the
tools. 😊

CE 525SE Special Topics in Structural Engineering (Wind Engineering) 10

Prepared by: Engr. Winfred Liwanag II, M. Eng