- Author
-
Marshall, R. D.
- Title
- Measurement of Wind Loads on a Full-Scale Mobile Home. Final Report.
- Coporate
- National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC
- Sponsor
- Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, DC
- Report
-
NBSIR 77-1289
September 1977
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
trailers; houses; aerodynamic loads; wind pressure; structural design; aerodynamic forces; wind velocity; building codes
- Identifiers
- mobile homes
- Abstract
- An experimental investigation of wind loads acting on a full-scale mobile home is reported. The objectives of the investigation were (1) the direct measurement of surface pressures and overall drag and lift forces, (2) the formulation of recommended loads for the design of mobile homes and their anchoring systems to resist forces due to wind and (3) the measurement of deflections and the identification of failure modes with application of simulated wind loads. Measurements were obtained for a variety of wind speeds and relative wind directions using a mobile home with nominal plan dimensions of 12 by 60 ft (3.7 by 18.3m). Wind speeds were measured at five levels ranging from 3 to 18m and the mean velocity profiles were found to be best described by a power law with exponent alpha = 0.18. Extreme negative pressure fluctuations were found to occur on the end walls and along the perimeter of the roof. The resonant component of response of the mobile home to drag and lift forces is negligible for basic wind speeds up to 90 mph (40 m/s) and the average maximum lift loads are not strongly influenced by the presence or absence of skirting. Recommended design loads are based on the average maximum event in a time interval of 1000 seconds and are tabulated for assumed basic wind speeds of 70 and 90 mph (31 and 40 m/s) and a moderately open wind exposure.