Skip to main content

Wind Loading per TIA-222-H

TowerPlot calculates wind loads following ANSI/TIA-222-H (2018) methodology.

Design Wind Force on Structure

FST = qz × Gh × (EPA)S

Where:

  • qz = Velocity pressure at height z
  • Gh = Gust effect factor
  • (EPA)S = Effective Projected Area of the structure

Velocity Pressure

Per ANSI/TIA-222-H Eq. 2-1:

qz = 0.613 × Kz × Kzt × Ks × Ke × Kd × V²  [N/m²]
FactorNameSource
KzVelocity pressure exposure coefficientTIA-222-H Table 2-3
KztTopographic factorTIA-222-H Section 2.6.6
KsRooftop speed-up factorTIA-222-H Section 2.6.6
KeGround elevation factorTIA-222-H Table 2-2
KdWind directionality factorTIA-222-H Table 2-6
VBasic wind speedUser input / local codes
TIA-222-F

TIA-222-F does not use Kd, Kzt, Ks, or Ke factors. The velocity pressure simplifies to qz = 0.613 × Kz × V².

EPA Per Section

(EPA)s = Cf × [Df × Af + Dr × Ar × Rr]
VariableMeaning
CfForce coefficient for flat members (from solidity ratio, TIA-222-H Table 2-8)
AfProjected area of flat/angular members
ArProjected area of round members
Df, DrDirection factors for flat and round members per TIA-222-H Table 2-7
RrRound member reduction factor

Solidity Ratio

The solidity ratio determines the force coefficient:

ε = (Af + Ar) / Ag

Where Ag is the gross area of the tower face (panel height × panel width).

  • Lower solidity → higher Cf (less shielding)
  • Higher solidity → lower Cf (more shielding)
  • TowerPlot interpolates Cf from TIA-222-H Table 2-8 based on the calculated solidity ratio

Wind Directions

Cross SectionTotal DirectionsDescription
Triangular93 faces × 3 approach patterns per face
Square84 faces × 2 approach patterns per face

The governing direction (producing highest member forces) is automatically identified.

See also: TIA-222-H Reference for the complete standard mapping.