Wind-Induced Dynamic Behavior of Single-Skin Curtain-Wall System: A Comparative Numerical Study

Abstract

Glass curtain walls, while broadly used as a building facade, are vulnerable to extreme winds. Curtain-wall failures in major wind events lead to substantial economic losses, and wind-induced vibration is often a major contributing factor to such failures. The main objectives of this study are to (i) present high-fidelity numerical modeling techniques to reproduce the wind-induced dynamic behavior of building facades, specifically focusing on a single-skin curtain-wall system, and (ii) highlight the impact of the interaction between facade and building structure on the wind-induced dynamic behavior of the curtain-wall system. The developed finite-element model is calibrated for a particular wind scenario tested at the Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (NHERI) Wall of Wind Experimental Facility (WOW EF) at Florida International University (FIU), and subsequently validated to assess whether it can realistically reproduce the dynamic behavior in different scenarios involving various wind speeds and directions. This study also uncovers that the interaction between the facade and the building structure plays an important role in governing the wind-induced dynamic behavior of the curtain wall. In addition, this study finds that the presence of a vertical protrusion, attached to the facade for architectural reasons, may negatively impact the wind-induced dynamic response of the curtain wall, with this impact being influenced by the interaction between facade and structure. This study reports the significant discoveries, contributing new insights to facade design and the engineering industry.