Performance of conservatories under wind and snow loads

Wind and snow loads are the governing load cases for the design of conservatories. The performance of conservatories under these loads determines to a great extent the reliability and serviceability of these structures. This paper presents a study that evaluates the performance of several conservatory designs under wind and snow loads calculated according to the ASCE 7-05 standard. A full-scale model of one common conservatory design was constructed and tested under extreme wind and snow conditions. The model was able to withstand the applied loads without any signs of damage or partial failures. Measured deformations were used to calibrate the three-dimensional computer model developed to simulate the actual structure. Several other computer models were developed to structurally analyze different conservatory designs and estimate their vertical and lateral deflections. The design of critical sections in each model was checked using the load and resistance factor design of wood structures. The study concluded that the design of these conservatories is adequate and their performance is satisfactory under wind and snow loading conditions.