China-us Australia Three Wind Load Specifications Comparison

The wind load has been one of the principal factors for design consideration. It is necessary to know well about the wind load and its structural response. Accordingly many countries have enforced wind codes. In this paper the enforced wind loading codes of China, America and Australia are introduced and compared.It is shown that all these three codes involve four factors: basic wind velocity (wind pressure), terrain/height coefficient, shape factor, dynamic amplification factor. Some detailed specifications are investigated and compared in this paper.The analysis shows that averaging time is the uppermost difference on basic wind speeds; the main distinctions on terrain/height coefficients are the considered factors and particularities.The theories in these three codes are similar about shape factors, and wind-tunnel tests are applied to obtain them. For the articles, shape factors in codes of USA and Australia are more detailed. The articles in China code are enough for general application, while they are should be more detailed on specifications for roof shape factor, internal pressure factor and local pressure factor.The effects of fluctuating wind to structures are complex. For the aspect of fluctuating wind velocity, the theories in these three codes are different to another. As for the power spectrum of wind velocity, specifications in codes of USA and Australia are more particular. And the turbulence intensity in Chinese code is small.In general, the wind loading code of Australia is more particular and systematic, America code take the second place in these three codes. The specifications in Chinese code are a little simple.