Wind-Induced Dynamic Behavior of Mechanically Attached Single-Ply Membrane Roofing Systems Installed on Flat Roofs

Abstract

The present paper investigates the wind-induced dynamic behavior of a mechanically attached single-ply membrane roofing system installed on flat roofs of middle-rise and high-rise buildings with or without parapets. First, the wind pressure distributions on the roof were measured in a turbulent boundary layer. The results indicate that the parapets affect the wind pressure distributions significantly. Very large peak suctions are induced near the windward corner of the roof in an oblique wind in the case of a building without parapets. Then, we have developed a test method for evaluating the wind-resistant performance of the roofing system using three Pressure Loading Actuators (PLAs) and a chamber to which a full-scale specimen is attached. In the experiments, the chamber was divided into three spaces by using thin silicon sheets. The PLAs generated different fluctuating pressures in these spaces using the time history of wind pressure coefficients measured at three points near the windward corner of the roof in an oblique wind. We measured the membrane deformations and the wind forces acting on the fasteners connecting the membrane with the structural substrate. The results indicate that horizontal forces nearly equal to or larger than the vertical ones are generated on the fasteners, which may cause pulling out of fasters more easily. The failure mode was found to be different from that obtained from a ramped pressure loading test. We have also developed a model of finite element analysis, which was validated by an experiment. The results of analysis for a wide area of roofing system indicate that relatively large horizontal forces may be generated on the fasteners in the field region of the roof for buildings with parapets.