Experimental study of wind effects on flat porous fabric roofs

This paper presents the results of a parametric wind tunnel study of wind effects on flat fabric roofs in uniform flow. Parameters investigated include the fabric mass, porosity and pretension. Fabric mass is found to influence tensions induced during flapping. Fabric porosity suppresses the static response and destroys the periodicity of the dynamic response. Fabric pretension suppresses the dynamic response of impervious fabrics.