Definition(s)
Gust Wind Speed
Maximum value of the wind speed of a gust averaged over a short (3 s to 60 s) specified duration within a longer (1 min to 1 h) specified duration
NOTE 1 For design purposes, the specified duration depends on the dimensions and natural period of the (part of the) structure being designed such that the structure is designed for the most onerous conditions; thus, a small part of a structure is designed for a shorter gust wind speed duration (and hence a higher gust wind speed) than a larger (part of a) structure.
NOTE 2 In practice, for design purposes, the gust wind speeds for different durations (e.g. 3 s, 5 s, 15 s, 60 s) are derived from the wind spectrum.
Source: API RP 2MET, Derivation of Metocean Design and Operating Conditions, First Edition, November 2014. Global Standards