Enter the area exposed to the wind, the wind speed, and the pressure coefficient into the calculator to determine the wind load on a structure. The calculator provides the wind load in pounds per square foot.
Wind Load Formula
The following formula is used to calculate the wind load on a structure:
WL = 0.00256 * C * V^2 * A
Variables:
- WL is the wind load (pounds per square foot)
- C is the pressure coefficient
- V is the wind speed (miles per hour)
- A is the area exposed to the wind (square feet)
To calculate the wind load, multiply the pressure coefficient by the square of the wind speed, then multiply by the constant 0.00256 and the area exposed to the wind.
What is Wind Load?
Wind load is the force exerted by the wind on a structure. It is an important consideration in the design and construction of buildings and other structures, as it can affect their stability and integrity. The wind load depends on factors such as the wind speed, the shape and size of the structure, and its orientation relative to the wind direction.
How to Calculate Wind Load?
The following steps outline how to calculate the Wind Load:
- First, determine the area exposed to the wind (A) in square feet.
- Next, determine the wind speed (V) in miles per hour.
- Next, determine the pressure coefficient (C).
- Next, gather the formula from above = WL = 0.00256 * C * V^2 * A.
- Finally, calculate the Wind Load (WL) in pounds per square foot.
- After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.
Example Problem:
Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.
Area exposed to the wind (A) = 500 square feet
Wind speed (V) = 100 miles per hour
Pressure coefficient (C) = 1.3