effective wind area asce-7-05

huangyhg

effective wind area asce-7-05
hello,
if i have a continuous member (say 5 span) would i use the centre to centre of supports(individual spans) to calculate the effective area for windload calculations or would i use the entire length of the continuous member (5 spans)
it is definitely conservative to use individual span but is it permissible to use the entire span.
thanks
the wind tributary area has no bearing as to the model of continuous or simple span.  if the continuous   
asce's guide to the wind load provisions has a good discussion on this issue.  you can not use the total length of a continuous   
don't forget the width definition for effective area.  width does not need to be greater than 1/3 the span.
that should be width does not need to be less than 1/3 the span.
daveatkins