EQUIVALENT TIME AVERAGING IN WIND ENGINEERING

The concept of 'equivalent time averaging' used in wind engineering to compute wind loads on finite areas of structures, is examined. It is shown that a value of averaging time equal to about 1.0-times the effe ctive length of the structural influence area divided by a representat ive mean velocity, is an appropriate one for structural load effects w ith simple influence lines. For complex influence lines, the equivalen t time-averaging concept breaks down.