Tuulikuorman

Tuulikuorman, commonly referred to as wind load, is the structural load caused by wind acting on surfaces of a built object. It encompasses external wind pressure on facades and roofs, suction and uplift forces, as well as wind-induced shear on structural elements. It includes both steady and gusty components and can vary with direction, height and surface exposure.

The magnitude and distribution depend on wind speed at height, terrain roughness, topography and building geometry. Wind load is usually expressed as surface pressure (p) or line loads on walls and roofs, typically in kilopascals (kPa) or kilonewtons per meter squared (kN/m^2), and the resulting forces are computed for design.

Design of tuulikuorman uses wind climate data and standards such as Eurocode 1 (EN 1991-1-4) in Europe, with national annexes (e.g., Finland's SFS EN 1991-1-4). The calculation uses factors such as external pressure coefficients Cp, gust factors, and exposure categories; wind speeds at the site height are translated into dynamic pressure qz, which is then converted to design pressures. Internal pressure differences due to openings are also considered.

The resulting tuulikuorman informs structural design, including wall lateral forces, roof uplift, and connection requirements, and is evaluated in load cases and safety factors to ensure serviceability and safety under wind events.