Strength Comparison of Flat Roof Solar Panel Mounting Systems

Abstract

The trend of installing solar panels in residential buildings has been primarily driven by efforts to lower energy costs, signifying a notable shift towards embracing solar energy solutions. The market offers a wide range of structural mounting systems for solar panels. This paper concentrated on analyzed the most utilized mounting system for flat roofs and determining the strength capacity usage in a 160-mph wind speed hurricane event and compare the different installation patterns found in the existing installed mount systems in residential building around the island of Puerto Rico. The study underscores the overall reliability of the structural integrity while acknowledging deficiencies in one of the mounting systems employing the N=L installation pattern. Key Terms - Aluminum, Solar Mount Installation, Solar Panel, Structural Analysis, Wind Load.