| This dissertation contributes to an ongoing research project at the National Research Council Canada in the evaluation of roofing systems for wind uplift design. Accomplishments are grouped in two tasks. Task one provides development of a knowledge-based design module for the estimation of wind load distribution on roofs. Task two, numerical modeling using finite element methods and experiments to investigate the performance of roofing systems subjected to wind uplift loads.; For the Task one, all the data of wind uplift pressure distribution on roof configurations from open literature, including studies using wind tunnel boundary layer and full-scale measurements, are reviewed.; For the Task two, various mechanically attached single-ply roofing systems were numerically modeled based on the Finite Element program with the capability of non-linear analysis. Experiments were also carried out and data obtained from the Dynamic Roofing Facility was used for benchmarking the developed model. Since, there is no consensus on table size for evaluation of roofing system in various test procedures, the validated model was further used to investigate the effect of table size. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)... |
