Brian,
Are you designing the backstop as a building or a sign. This structure should be stress controlled, not deflection controlled since people are unlikely to be near it during high winds.
Bill
From: Brian K. Smith [mailto:smithegr@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2007 6:22 AM
To: seaint@seaint.org
Subject: Backstop Design
I am in the process of designing a backstop for a high school athletic field. 100mph wind loading, 27'-5" high. I determined my wind pressures using ASCE 7, assuming an epsilon of 0.192 (2x2 6 ga. mesh). My average wind pressure (total force over area) came out to be around 17.7 psf, which for a cantilevered 27.5' post at 8' or 10' is huge. I was originally assuming I would have 4" diameter schedule 40 post at 10' on center; but now I'm coming up with 8" A53 pipe at 8' on center. Am I missing something?
Brian K. Smith, P.E.