Equivalent static wind loads for stability design of large span roof structures

Wind effects on roofs are usually considered by equivalent static wind loads based on the equivalence of displacement or internal force for structural design. However, for large-span spatial structures that are prone to dynamic instability under strong winds, such equivalent static wind loads may be inapplicable. The dynamic stability of spatial structures under unsteady wind forces is therefore studied in this paper. A new concept and its corresponding method for dynamic instability-aimed equivalent static wind loads are proposed for structural engineers. The method is applied in the dynamic stability design of an actual double-layer cylindrical reticulated shell under wind actions. An experimental–numerical method is adopted to study the dynamic stability of the shell and the dynamic instability originating from critical wind velocity. The dynamic instability-aimed equivalent static wind loads of the shell are obtained.