Wind Load Provisions of the Revised Building Code in Japan

Hisashi Okada 1) , Yasuo Okuda 2) and Hitomitsu Kikitsu3)

Abstract 30m/s
This paper describes the new wind load provisions
32m/s
in the revised Japanese building code. The
provisions were established in June, 2000 and 34m/s
enforced immediately. In the reform, design wind 36m/s
loads were defined on the results of extreme 38m/s
statistical analysis of wind velocities. Various new 40m/s
technical concepts such as terrain categories were 42m/s
introduced in the reform. In the revision works, 44m/s
simplification of the expressions was carried out
46m/s
as well as removal of unclearness on the criteria.
In this paper major revision works are presented
in this paper.

Key words:
Building code, Design wind speed, Terrain
category
Wind pressure coeffic ient
Figure 1 Map of datum wind speed
1. INTRODUCTION The radical revision of the wind load provisions
The Japanese Building Code is composed of the was carried out for the new building code. The
Building Standard Law, the Building Standard revision was based on AIJ recommendation. The
Law Enforcement Order, etc. The Building main revisions are those on levels of load, clear
Standard Law, in which objectives of the code, separation of loads into for structural frames and
definitions of terms, fundamental concepts and so
for external building components, introduction of
on were described, was revised in 1998. The
exposure factor and introduction of gust effect
revision was the one toward into the factor.
performance-based regulation. Following the
revision, technical regulations such as load (1) Level of wind load
provisions, structural calculation provisions, etc. In the old provisions, wind load level was based
were reformed in 2000. They are in the Building on a record at Muroto promontory in a historical
Standard Law Enforcement Orders (cabinet
huge typhoon, “Muroto” in 1934. We have a lot of
orders), the Building Standard Law Enforcement
data at present, which can give us reliable
Regulations (Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
estimation of expected value of wind speed. So
Transportation [= The former is Ministry of
Construction] orders) and Notifications of 1)Director, Structural Engineering Department,
Ministry of Construction. The revision on wind Building Research Institute, Tsukuba, Ibaraki
load provisions was very drastic, but it was based 305-0802, Japan
on AIJ recommendation1). In this paper, major 2) Senior Researcher, Ditto
technical works that were carried out for the 3)Chief Official, Building Guidance Division,
revision are presented. Housing Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure
and Transportation, Kasumigaseki, Tokyo,
2. NEW WIND LOAD PROVISION 100-8918, Japan
the statistical analysis was carried out. Utilizing diagrammatic ally the categories.
the result, Datum wind speed was prescribed on The area of Category I is designated in the area
50 years return period values in each place in of Category II and the area of Category IV is
Japan in the new provisions. Datum wind speed designated in III by regional governments.
was defined as 10 minute average wind speed at In AIJ recommendation, Category V where tall
10m height above the ground over the flat open buildings heavily concentrate is categorized. But
terrain. Taking uncertainty of typhoons into it was not categorized in the provisions because it
consideration, the minimum wind speed for datum was decided not to be necessary from the
wind speed was set. As the result, it is ranged viewpoint of building control.
from 30 to 46m/s. A map for datum wind speed is
shown in figure 1.

Height of building
Height of building
Design wind load for no damage was Ⅱ
prescribed on datum wind speed. Design wind 31m
load for no collapse design was prescribed as 1.6 Ⅱ
13m 13m Ⅲ
times of the no damage design wind load. They
Ⅲ
are corresponding to 50 years and 500 years return 0m 200m 500m
periods values respectively.
Distance from shoreline
or lakefront
(2) Load estimation formula (a) Outside of (b) Inside of city
Wind loads for no damage design are given by city planning area planning area
the following formulas. The formula for structural
frames is Figure 2 Categories of exposure factor
W f = 0 .6 E r G f Vo C f
2 2
(1)
2
where, Wf = wind load (N/m ), Er =vertical
distribution coefficient for mean wind (4) Vertical distribution co. for mean wind speed
speed, Gf =gust effect factor, V0 = datum Er or vertical distribution coefficient for mean
wind speed (m/s) and Cf =wind force wind speed is given with the following equation.
α
coefficient. Z 
While the formula for external building Er = 1 .7  b  H ≤ Zb
components is  ZG 
α
(3)
W = q ⋅ Cˆ (2)  H 
c f = 1.7 
 H > Zb
2
where, Wc = wind load (N/m ), q =mean velocity  ZG 
where, H = mean height of roof, and the other
pressure = 0.6 E r 2V o 2 and Ĉ f =peak wind
parameters are shown in table 1. Figure 3 shows
force coefficient. the figures of Er .

(3) Category for exposure factor Table 1 Parameters of Er

Terrain categories are defined with descriptive Terrain Zb (m) ZG (m) α
expressions and/or photographs showing the category
typical examples in AIJ recommendation as well
I 5 250 0.10
as the other Standards 2),3). The definition was
II 5 350 0.15
thought to have a fear to produce misjudgment.
III 5 450 0.20
Hence, the clear definition from the viewpoint of
administrative building control was required and IV 10 550 0.27
developed as follows.
The terrain categories are regulated with
whether the site is inside of the city planning area
or not, building height and the distance from sea
front or lakefront. Figure 2 shows
 defined as follows.
700
C f = C pe − C pi (4)
Terrain
600 where, Cpe = external wind pressure coefficient,
Category Cpi = internal wind pressure coefficient.
500
Ⅳ External wind pressure coefficients for the
400 following shape buildings and structures are
Height (m)

Ⅲ
Ⅱ shown in the provisions. They are closed
300 buildings having pitched roof, flat roof,
Ⅰ
200 mono-slope roof, arched roof, multi span pitched
roof and multi span saw-tooth roof, unenclosed
100 buildings having pitched roof, free roofs of
pitched roof and wing type roof, lattice structure,
0
netlike structure and cylindrical structure.
0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 Figure 4 shows the external wind pressure
coefficients of closed building having flat roof and
Er pitched roof as the examples.
Figure 3 Er (=Vertical distribution coefficient for
mean wind speed) -1.0 -0.5

(5) Gust effect factor -0.5

Gust effect factor is used to convert 10-minute
average velocity pressure to instantaneous wind H
force. Dynamic effect such as resonance between windward
-0.7
dynamic behavior of structural frame and wind 0.8k z
load fluctuation is taken into consideration with -0.4
B
the gust factor. Table 2 shows gust effect factors
prescribed in the provisions. The gust effect factor
was derived with the detailed procedure II of AIJ 0.5a
recommendation, assuming the following values; (a) flat roof rectangular building
Datum wind speed ; 35m/s
-0.5
Building; Aspect ratio =1 , 2 and 4
Natural frequency; 40/HT (Hz), see table 3 -0.4
where, HT = building
height(m)
Damping coefficient =0.02
The provisions prescribe wind tunnel tests or windward B
actual measurements are available to determine 0.8kz
gust effect factor. -0.7
-0.4
Table 2 Gust effect factor
Terrain Mean height of roof 0.5a
category H≤10m 10<H<40m 40m≤H (b) pitched roof rectangular building
I 2.0 1.8
II 2.2 due to linear 2.0 Figure 4 External wind pressure coefficient for
III 2.5 interpolation 2.1 closed type building
IV 3.1 2.3
In Figure 4, H, B and a in Figure 4 are defined as
(6)Wind Force coefficient follows;
Wind force coefficient for structural frame is H = mean height of roof
 B = breadth of building External peak pressures coefficients are given
a = min(B, 2H) by the products of Cpe and Gpe in case they are
And k z is defined as follows; plus. But in case that they are minus, they are
in case of H ≤ Z b k z = 1. 0 given by external peak pressure coefficients
in case of H > Z b , themselves. Table 5 and 6 show the Cpe and Gpe
2α
for pitched roofs, mono-slope roofs and multi
Z  span saw tooth roofs. Table 7 shows the minus
Z ≤ Zb, kz = b  peak external pressure coefficients for pitched
H
2α
roofs. Table 8 shows peak internal pressure
Z  coefficients.
Z > Zb , kz = 
H
Table 4 shows in ternal pressure coefficients Table 5 Plus Cpe for pitched roof, mono-slope roof
prescribed in the provisions. and multi span saw tooth roof
Wind tunnel tests are available to get external and roof pitch 10° 30° 45° 90°
internal pressure coefficients. Cpe 0 0.2 0.4 0.8
Liner interpolation may be used for the roof
Table 3 External pressure coefficient for pitch between the roof pitches shown the
windward roof of pitched roof above.
roof pitch plus coefficient minus For roof pitch less than 10 degree, plus Cpe
coefficient should not necessary to be considered.
less than - -1.0
10° Table 6 Gpe for pitched roof, mono-slope roof and
10 ° 0 -1.0 multi span saw tooth roof in case of plus
30 ° 0.2 -0.3 Cpe.
45 ° 0.4 0 Terrain Mean height of roof
90 ° 0.8 - category H≤5m 5<H<40m 40m≤H
Liner interpolation may be used for the roof I 2.2 due to linear 1.9
pitch between the roof pitches shown the above II 2.6 interpolation 2.1
III and IV 3.1 2.3
Table 4 Internal wind pressure coefficient
Closed Unenclosed building Table 7 Minus peak external pressure coefficient
building Open in Open in for pitched roof, mono-slope roof and multi span
windward leeward saw tooth roof
0 and -0.2 0.6 -0.4 Part roof pitch
≤ 10° 20° ≥ 30°
(7)Peak wind force coefficient A -2.5 -2.5 -2.5
Peak wind force coefficients are given by the B -3.2 -3.2 -3.2
following equation. C -4.3 -3.2 -3.2
Cˆ f = Cˆ pe − Cˆ pi (5) D -3.2 -5.4 -3.2
Part A, B, C and D are indicated in figure 5.
where, Ĉ pe =peak external pressure coefficient, Liner interpolation may be used for roof pitch
Ĉ pi = peak internal pressure coefficient. other than shown.
Here, an attention should be paid to the peak “a” in figure 5 is smaller one between smaller
internal pressure coefficient. It is not the one to dimension of building plan and 2 times of
building height.
define the real peak internal pressure but the
contribution of internal pressure to the maximum
instantaneous wind forces.
Wind tunnel tests are available to determine the
peak wind force coefficients, too.
 D 3) “ASCE Standard, ANSI/ASCE 7-95”, 1996
0.1a C

0.3a
A
0.1a B

0.3a
H 0.3a 0.3a

Figure 5 Classification for minus peak external

pressure coefficient of pitched roof

Table 8 Peak internal pressure coefficient

Closed peak external pressure -0.5
building ≥0
peak external pressure 0
<0
Unclose open in windward 1.5
d open in leeward -1.2
building

3. CONCLUSION
Wind load provisions in the new Japanese
Building code were described.
In the wind load provisions, terrain categories
were defined with clear definitions from the
viewpoint of building control.
The design wind speeds were based on 50 years
return period for no damage design and 500 years
return period for no collapse. They are 10-minute
average wind speed at 10m height above the
ground over flat open terrain.
To develop the new provisions, some
simplifications were carried out. As one of the
results, gust effect factors for structural frame
were defined with terrain category and building
height.
Wind load estimation formulas were prescribed
for structural frame and for external building
components separately.
Some wind pressure coefficients shown in the
provisions were presented here.

Reference
1) “AIJ Recommendations for Loads on
Buildings” Architectural Institute of Japan, 1996
2) “Australian Standard, AS1170.2-1989, SAA
Loading Code Part 2”, 1989