Ground Mount Solar Array

You might be in over your head....I would contact the company you bought the panels from and see if they provide this service, or can recommend somebody....In any case I don't think anyone will do it for free.....

http://solarprofessional.com/articles/design-installation/wind-load-analysis-for-commercial-roof-mounted-arrays

Cut your loss and scratch the solar idea and plant wind turbines, you might have better production with those wind speeds

Trim the blades first.

can you install a webcam looking at the panels? on a windy day I want to watch them fly

Your building department caught somebody unqualified to perform this design. You need to hire somebody licensed to do the correct analysis or give up on this project.

Try Googling "wind load calculations".

If they knew to Google for the correct calculation then they might be considered qualified but not certified. They would probably then be able to parse the relevant from irrelevant flood of answers that Google rapidly provides. So who are you helping?

Someone needs to explain how a solar panel will survive an 85 MPH impact from debris.

Not to mention surface abrasion from all the dust.

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The exact same way that a solar panel can survive reaching the escape velocity of the Earth, micro-meteorites at astronomical speeds and functioning perfectly well with no possible repairs for years after assembly. A qualified engineer analyzes the situations, crunches the numbers, and provides a design for others to scrutinize. Oh, I almost forgot, the engineer will also provide a bill for services rendered.

By 'building dept' I'm assuming you mean building inspector. Most building inspectors want calculations done by and signed by a professional engineer. Your efforts at calculating wind load yourself may be moot. You should find out for sure before going too far and if need be find (and pay) a qualified and certified engineer to sign off on it.

When I installed my solar array, I bought my ground mount system through a dealer that designed the mount for me. Their engineer signed off on it and my county building inspector accepted that.

I'll second WJMFIRE's comment, in my area both roofs and solar installations are designed to withstand 90 mph winds. Lyn, it's the worst case scenario design criteria, not something he's likely to see often.

Hire an engineer. Nothing less will satisfy the building inspector.

There have been several threads exactly on this subject the past few years.

Did you perform a "Search" to see what you're getting into?

Calculating wind loads and performing structural calculations is not for the Layman, and are fairly complicated, plus you need to use engineering judgement because there are quite a few variables that have to determined based on the same sound judgement....educated guesses just won't do.

As other ahead of me have stated, hire a Licensed Professional Engineer, preferably a qualified Structural Engineer. Nothing less will satisfy the Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector.

IF you have 85 mph winds consistently, aren't you overlooking something amazing and possibly more useful than the solar input?

Consider installing a densely arranged array of wind generators upstream of the solar (far enough to not cast a shadow if the breezes are southerly (or northerly if you live in the Outback)). Then install a wind break to lift the breeze up and over the solar array, (of course this will have been built to withstand the same 85 mph winds.). Now you have precluded most of debris impacts, and hopefully limited sandblasting. With the solar system in the lee of the wind break, all should be well.

Hire a certified engineer to consider all the possibilities. Don't overlook all the potential, then build a solid system.