Assessment of Opening Dimension Effects on Internal Wind Pressure Coefficient Patterns in Barrel Vault Roof

Khosravi, Hossein; Bahram, Mohammad; Esmaily, Abdolbaset

doi:10.22059/ceij.2025.401578.2379

Assessment of Opening Dimension Effects on Internal Wind Pressure Coefficient Patterns in Barrel Vault Roof

Articles in Press

Authors

Hossein Khosravi ¹

Mohammad Bahram ²

Abdolbaset Esmaily ²

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

² Department of Civil Engineering, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran

10.22059/ceij.2025.401578.2379

Abstract

Accurate estimation of wind loads on barrel vault structures is of great importance for achieving precise and economical design. However, due to their curved geometry and the dependency of wind load distribution on structural form, the correct calculation of wind loads on these structures has always been a challenge for engineers. This issue becomes even more critical when the structure contains large openings. In this study, the effect of opening dimensions on the wind load distribution of barrel vault structures is investigated. First, the distribution of pressure coefficients (Cp) on barrel vaults with different height-to-span ratios is examined. Then, the internal pressure distribution of barrel vaults with a constant height-to-span ratio and varying opening sizes on the windward and leeward sides is simulated and analyzed under Terrain Category C conditions, with wind speed and turbulence intensity defined according to ASCE 7. In total, 49 models with different opening ratios in the barrel vault are analyzed. The results show that parameters such as opening dimensions and the ratio of windward to leeward openings have a significant effect on the wind forces acting on the structure.

Keywords

Barrel vault structures

CFD simulation

Wind pressure

Structural openings

Subjects