Seismic assessment of glazed facade systems

The curtain wall façade system is popular in all types of buildings including commercial, industrial and institutional structures. The structural design of curtain walls normally takes into account in-plane and out-of-plane loading from wind, thermal movement and deflection from supporting structural elements due to gravity loads and creep. Seismic loads on the structure can potentially impose significant in-plane loading on the glazing system and may lead to damage if adequate detailing is not provided. In this paper, codified inter-storey drift limits for buildings are reviewed and seismic drift assessment methods of glazed façades in buildings are suggested with increasing accuracy and complexity. Performance of glass façade systems are then assessed with analysis results and conclusions presented.