Probabilistic analysis of Italian extreme winds : Reference velocity and return criterion

Applying and extending some preceding researches, this paper proposes a map of Italian extreme winds assigning the reference velocity, i.e., the wind velocity averaged over 10 minutes, at 10 m height, in a flat open terrain, with 50 years mean return period, depending on the site and the altitude. Furthermore, an objective criterion is formulated by which the actual values of the local wind velocity are given as a function of the reference velocity. The study has been carried out in view of the revision of the Italian Standards dealing with safety and loads and the introduction of the aeolic Italian map into Eurocode 1.