Sail effect in fences: Let's hear the expert

Sail Effect in Fences: Let's Hear from the Expert

Hello everyone, I'm Marco from Fenceshop, your trusted e-commerce for fences. Today we have a special guest, engineer Giuseppe Lonero, with whom we will talk about the sail effect in fences. Before we start, I remind you to subscribe to our channel and leave a like.

What is the Sail Effect?

The sail effect is the push exerted by the wind on a vertical surface. Imagine a sailboat: the wind pushes against the sail, making the boat move. Similarly, a fence can experience a push from the wind. If the fence is sturdy enough, it remains upright; otherwise, it can topple over.

Calculating Wind Push

Calculating the wind push is complex and depends on various factors such as geographic location, proximity to the sea, altitude, and the type of surface receiving the push. For example, a rounded surface like a round post experiences a different push compared to a masonry wall. Additionally, the wind push increases with height.

To give an order of magnitude, under ordinary conditions, a fence about two meters high can experience a wind push of between 40 and 50 kg per square meter. If the fence is solid, this push applies to the entire surface. If it is a chain link mesh fence, only the surface actually exposed to the wind should be considered.

Wind Push Variations

The wind push can vary over time. For example, a fence initially with holes can become solid if a climbing plant like ivy grows over it. In high mountains, ice can increase the exposed surface area of the fence wire, increasing the wind push.

Tips for High Fences

If you want to build a four-meter-high solid fence, you need to consider it will lead to significant expenses. The wind push on a fence of these dimensions can be very high. For example, a four-meter-high fence with posts spaced two meters apart could experience a push of 320 kg on each post. This means that the posts need to be very robust, not simple 40 mm T posts.

The Importance of Professional Design

When creating something out of the ordinary, it is essential to consult professionals. For an ordinary fence, such as a 1.2-meter-high separation barrier, there are no particular problems. However, for high and solid fences, the posts must be correctly dimensioned to avoid the fence falling under the wind's push.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if you need to build a special fence, always consult professionals who know their craft. At Fenceshop, we are always here to help you with the best products and advice. Thank you for following this video and remember to visit our websites www.fenceshop.it for the institutional site and www.fenceshop.eu for our e-commerce.

A special thanks to engineer Giuseppe Lonero for his professionalism and availability. If you have any questions, leave a comment or write to Giuseppe via the email in the description. Thanks to everyone and see you next time!