The wind load codification in Russia and some estimates of a gust load accuracy provided by different codes

In this paper the main features of Russian wind load code are shown in comp arison with requirements of some national and international codes. All para meters of average and gust loads: the basic wind pressure, importance facto r, territory coefficient and shape factor as well as a dynamic coefficient, are discussed here. Besides, for four structures the "theoretically" exact dynamic coefficient that was numerically found is compared with its value drawn from the considered codes. It is shown that, at least, for these stru ctures, Eurocode underrates the gust response and, on the contrary, Russian code overstates the one in the most cases. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.