Predicting peak resultant load effects of wind-excited tall buildings

The traditional peak factor approach and combination rules developed for Gaussian scalar combination effects are not applicable for vectorial combination effects which are featured by non-Gaussian characteristics. This paper addresses the evaluation of peak (mean extreme) value of a vectorial resultant response of wind-excited tall buildings resulting from correlated threedimensional responses with a special focus on building acceleration. The peak value of the resultant response over a given duration is analyzed based on upcrossing theory for vectorvalued Gaussian processes. A parametric study is conducted to identify the controlling parameters in estimating the upcrossing rate and peak resultant response. The accuracy of the current empirical combination approaches is evaluated, and a practical combination scheme is proposed.