Wind loads are often critical in effective design and can be quite complicated to determine and apply. Uplift forces, resulting from internal wind pressures, can be particularly crucial when designing steel structures and can lead to catastrophic consequences if overlooked.

To simplify the process of incorporating these loads, Prokon has introduced the Wind Load command to the SUMO interface (not to be confused with the Wind Analysis module). The wind code (or standard) and relevant parameters can be set by clicking on the Wind button located in the Standard section of the Loads ribbon. At the time of publication, eight (8) standards were available for selection.

These parameters determine the magnitude of the wind pressure applied when using the Wind Load command. Applying a wind load is similar to applying an area load: you select a start point, delineate the area, and close the polygon by returning to the start point.

What sets the Wind Load apart from the Area Load is that it distributes the load to elements based on their tributary areas. Central elements receive higher loads compared to edge elements. This distinction can be observed by switching to the Discretized Model View.

When adding Wind Loads, it’s important to note the following:

• The Wind Load will only be distributed to similar elements; it cannot be distributed to both beams and columns simultaneously, but only to one of the two. You can view the loaded elements by clicking on the “Loaded Elements” options button located in the Properties Palette of the relevant Wind Load.
• Internal and External Pressure Coefficients are not considered when determining the magnitude of the load.
• Neither Zones nor Wind Friction are taken into consideration.

Therefore, it is recommended that, for more complicated structures, Line Loads are applied, and their magnitudes are calculated manually using the relevant codes.

In conclusion, while the Wind Load command is a useful tool for modeling and loading small structures, for larger structures, it is best to utilize Line Loads applied according to the relevant code.

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