Dynamic wind load on an internal partition wall inside a compartmentalized building with an external dominant opening

Abstract

A theoretical and experimental investigation of the net dynamic load on the partition wall resulting from the internal pressure in a compartmentalized building with and without an internal opening is reported in this paper for a building with an external opening. An increase in the mean and net dynamic load on the partition wall with decrease in the size of the internal opening as predicted by the set of theoretical equations is backed by wind tunnel tests. In particular, a good agreement between the theoretical and measured admittance function of net wall partition load to ridge height dynamic pressure is observed for a loss coefficient value of 2.78. While the mean load on the partition wall with an internal opening is found to be predictably low from pressure equalization on either side of the wall, gust load factors of 2–3 in combination with Helmholtz resonance of internal pressure observed in the study can have severe implications on the direct and fatigue wind loads on partition walls, which are not usually designed to withstand such loads. A wind-loading standard from Standards Australia/New Zealand Standards recognizes this issue and provides adequate provisions for internal wall loading resulting from the dynamic effects of internal pressure.