Behaviour of roofing sheet systems under static uplift loads

Roofing sheets of industrial sheds have been observed to fail in uplift under extreme wind conditions as in a cyclone. This paper presents the research carried out to study the behaviour under static uplift loads of asbestos cement and galvanised iron corrugated roofing sheet systems used in India using gravity load method. About 250 full-scale tests were carried out on roofing sheet systems with different connections for a span/purlin spacing of 1.4 m. The behaviour of the systems as well as the ultimate loads is reported and analysed. Tests were also conducted to study the effect of reduced number of centre support bolts and the purlin type on the load-carrying capacity of the roofing sheet system. Small-scale models were also used to model the uplift behaviour of the roofing sheet systems at the connections and study the effect of dimensions of washers and types of bolts on the behaviour of roofing sheet system.