The Colombian building code, NSR-10, specifies three methods for estimating wind loads on structures: a) a Simplified Method, b) an Analytical Method and c) Wind Tunnel Testing. The first two of these methods are widely used by structural engineers in Colombia, as wind tunnel testing is comparatively expensive and time consuming, and only mandatory in special cases. Although the Simplified Method is only valid for buildings with regular shaped roofs and overall heights less than 18 m, the Analytical Method can be used for any regular building, regardless of the height. However, when these two methods are used to estimate wind loads for buildings with heights less than 18 m, they often produce very different results and, at times, contradictory values. In this study, Computational Fluids Dynamic (CFD) analyses were performed on flat and gabled roofed building models in order to compare the pressures on the roofs with those calculated using the standard design methods specified by the Colombian building code. The results illustrate the significant differences produced from the Simplified and Analytical methods of the NSR-10 and highlight the need of conducting wind tunnel tests in order to propose a more consistent method for estimating design wind loads in Colombia
Abstract The Colombian building code, NSR-10, specifies three methods for estimating wind loads on structures: a) a Simplified Method, b) an Analytical Method and c) Wind Tunnel Testing. [...]
Comparison of Wind Loads on Flat and Gabled Roofs calculated with the Colombian Building Code and Numerical Results using CFD 
