How to Calculate Wind Pressure on Ships

Most boats will have a way to measure wind speed on the boat.

While you are on a boat, you can calculate the wind pressure if you know the speed of the wind. You can use an anemometer in order to measure wind speed. Most boats will have the anemometer aboard the ship since wind speed is an important measurement for boats. The formula for calculating wind pressure is 0.00256 times wind speed squared. By plugging the wind speed into the formula, you can quickly calculate the wind pressure.

Instructions

1. Find the wind speed in miles per hour. For example, assume the wind speed is 20 miles per hour.

2. Multiply the wind speed by itself. This is wind speed squared. In the example, 20 times 20 equals 400.

3. Multiply the wind speed squared by 0.00256 to calculate wind pressure. In the example, 400 times 0.00256 equals wind pressure of 1.024 pound per foot squared.

References

• K7NV: Wind Loads