Wind load for leaning structures

Hello

In a tutorial I read that wind loads can only be applied to members or planes paralelle to one of the axes, is this true? My building is shaped like a diamond and therefore have very few members fulfilling this requirement. I have used the built in ASCE-7 calculation tool to generate my wind load, which is an open lattice structure. Does this mean my windload is inaccurate? If yes, what is the best alternative method to obtain accurate numbers? 

I also have a question regarding load combinations. I have applied factors 1,2 for dead load, and 1,5 for wind load, as this is the dominating variable load. But when I alter these factors, there are no change in the output file. Why?

I hope to get some clarifying answers.

Kristoffer

  • Although the wind load generation works best for planes which are parallel to the global planes, STAAD is able to generate wind loading on inclined faces too. In general if there are problems with the wind load generation, you will get either warning messages in the analysis output or you will see some problems graphically.

    Regarding the second part of your query, when you say there is no change in the output file, what results are you referring to ? The analysis results like nodal displacements, support reactions, member forces etc should change for all such combinations for which you have changed the load combination factors. However if you are referring to design, I can see that remaining unaltered if the critical condition for design is not affected by the change. A detailed look at the critical load case and the critical condition reported for design, can offer some clue.