Study on the Estimation of Ununiform Snow Accumulations on Roofs Based on Wind Tunnel Tests Using Artificial Snow and Wind Pressure Coefficients

Abstract

In estimating 廿｝ e snow loads on roofs ofbuildings and space s rructures in heavy snew regions ， it is important to considcr the ununifem 】 snow depth distributions of an entire roof a 【 ea ． The objective of this study is to develop an usefUl and reliable method in the stmc 蹴 a】 design in order to predict roof snew accumulations due to snewstorms ， First ， the efficiency of wind tUnnel teSts using artificia1 snow particles is discussed as compared With field measurements of roof snow surveyed in detail by aerial photogranunetry ， The 飢 i五cial snow particles enable more realistic experiments than model snow particles such as cracked wheat or activated c】 a ) -etc． Second as the roof snow accumulation is dose【 y related to the characteriSticg ． ofwind f 【 ow around a building ， this s価 dy fbcuses the re 正 ationship betWeen the snow a ulati。n ob 撫 ined行o 舳 e ab 。ve mentioned wind tUnne］ testS and 血 e djstnbuti on of 山 e 月uctuating wind pressure coefficients on roof 』 、 It is ib しmd that when the test conditions are suitab ［ e， the aceurate estimation ofsnow accumu ［ ation patterns is possible using wind tunnehests and ！ or the distribution ofthe fiuctUating wind pressur ¢ coe 価 cients on the roof 』 ．