Experimental Evaluation of a Vehicular Access Door Subjected to Hurricane Force Wind Pressures

Abstract

This report presents findings on the behavior of a typical rolling sheet vehicular access door under a hurricane force wind pressure. The objectives are to quantify the structural behavior of a rolling sheet vehicular access door and the attached frame under both positive pressure (pushing the door into the building) and negative pressure (suction pulling the door away from the building), including the direct measurement of the catenary forces in the wind locks with strain gauges. The results will be used to optimize existing design methods for a rolling sheet vehicular access door and the supporting door frame.