WIND LOAD ANALYSIS OF TALL BUILDINGS UNDER DIFFERENT TERRAIN CATEGORIES USING STAAD.PRO

Abstract

Tall buildings are increasingly constructed in urban and metropolitan regions to accommodate rapid population growth and optimize land utilization. As the height of a building increases, the influence of wind loads becomes one of the most critical factors affecting structural stability, serviceability, and occupant comfort. The magnitude and distribution of wind forces vary considerably with the surrounding terrain characteristics, making it essential to evaluate building performance under different terrain categories during the design stage. This project presents the Effect of Wind on Tall Building Subjected to Different Terrain Categories Using STAAD.Pro. The study investigates the structural behaviour of a tall reinforced concrete building under wind loading corresponding to Terrain Categories 1, 2, 3, and 4 as specified in IS 875 (Part 3): 2015. A threedimensional structural model is developed using STAAD.Pro, where dead load, live load, and wind load combinations are applied in accordance with IS 456:2000, IS 875 (Parts 1, 2, and 3). Important structural parameters including storey displacement, storey drift, base shear, overturning moment, bending moment, shear force, axial force, support reactions, and member deflections are evaluated and compared for each terrain category. The results demonstrate that terrain characteristics significantly influence wind pressure and the overall structural response of tall buildings. Buildings located in open terrain experience greater wind forces and larger lateral displacements than those surrounded by densely builtup areas. The study confirms that STAAD.Pro provides accurate structural analysis and efficient member design for wind-resistant buildings. The proposed framework assists structural engineers in developing safe, economical, and code-compliant tall buildings capable of withstanding varying wind conditions while improving structural reliability, serviceability, and long-term performance