SNOW AND WIND EXPERIMENTAL-ANALYSIS IN THE DESIGN OF LONG-SPAN SUBHORIZONTAL STRUCTURES

Inadequate analysis of loading conditions and/or structural behaviour is considered to be a prime cause of failure in structural reliability assessment. In order to increase the reliability level of the design process of long-span lightweight structural systems, theoretical analy sis must be frequently integrated by in scale experimental investigati ons combined with monitoring control of the subsequent performance of the structural behaviour. The uncertainties related to the random dist ribution of live loads on long-span sub-horizontal structures imply ve ry careful experimental loading analysis to calibrate mathematical mod elling and evaluate long-term sufficiency of the design. (C) 1998 Else vier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.