Solar PublicationsWind and Seismic Design and Analysis

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While high demand for renewable energy continues to drive rapid development in the solar industry, U.S. building codes have yet to include structural provisions for solar arrays. Joe Maffei, Karl Telleen, and Andreas Schellenberg are leading the development of design and analysis methods for solar arrays subjected to wind and seismic forces. Their work served as a basis for the design guidelines SEAOC PV1 and PV2 published by the Structural Engineers Association of California; Joe chairs the SEAOC committee and Karl is an active member. Joe also is a member of the ASCE 7 Subcommittee on Wind Loads, which is developing wind design requirements for the ASCE 7-16 standard. Following is a selection of publications and media coverage of the team’s research.

Structural Analysis and Application of Wind Loads to Solar Arrays
Schellenberg, Maffei, Telleen, and Ward, 2013
Journal of Wind Engineering and Industrial Aerodynamics

Wind Design Practice and Recommendations for Solar Arrays on Low-Slope Roofs
Maffei, Telleen, Ward, Kopp, and Schellenberg, 2013
Journal of Structural Engineering

Seismic Design of Ballasted Solar Arrays on Low-Slope Roofs
Maffei, Fathali, Telleen, Ward, and Schellenberg, 2013
Journal of Structural Engineering

Seismic Structural Requirements and Commentary for Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic Arrays
SEAOC Report PV1
Structural Engineers Association of California, 2012

Wind Design for Solar Arrays
SEAOC Report PV2
Structural Engineers Association of California, 2017

Structural Analysis and Wind Design Issues for Solar Arrays
Telleen, Banks, Ward, and Maffei, 2012
Proceedings Structural Engineers Association of California Convention, Santa Fe, NM

Seismic Behavior of Unattached Solar Arrays on Flat Roofs: Analysis, Shake-Table Testing, and Proposed Requirements
Schellenberg, Fathali, Maffei, and Miller, 2012
Proceedings Structural Engineers Association of California Convention, Santa Fe, NM

Test and Verify: Will your array stand up to heavy winds? Here’s how you can find out
Kopp, Maffei, and Tilley, 2012
Solar Power World