Racking Test Evaluation of a Single-Story Planar Unitized Curtain Wall System with Structural Glazing Tape
Publication: Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 24, Issue 2
Abstract
The objective of the study presented in this paper was to determine the racking performance of a four-side structural glazing tape curtain wall system. An EN-WALL 7250 (EN-Wall, Las Vegas, NV) unitized curtain wall system was tested using 3M VHB Structural Glazing Tape G23F (3M, St. Paul, MN). Specimens were planar and single story in configuration, features that align with most commercial unitized systems. Racking tests followed a published stepwise protocol to characterize the performance of the system for both unrestrained and restrained end-boundary conditions. Air leakage tests were also performed during to evaluate the wall system serviceability performance with respect to air leakage. Results of these tests on two full-scale specimens are presented herein. In summary, the full-scale specimens did not sustain any damage to the 3M VHB Structural Glazing Tape G23F or the glazing system. Some framing derailment occurred under very high drifts when certain boundary conditions were imposed. A complete description of the unitized system design is presented along with observations of potential serviceability issues.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors thank 3M Industrial Adhesives & Tapes Division and EN-WALL for supplying the materials and financial resources necessary to conduct these tests. The conclusions drawn from the study and presented herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of 3M or EN-WALL. The material presented in this paper is intended to provide a better understanding of the simulated seismic response of unitized curtain wall systems. Furthermore, data and procedures should not be relied on, under any circumstances, for specific applications or any actual project without consultation by a licensed design professional in the field of glazing-systems design.
References
3M. (2007). “VHB™ structural glazing tape tech guide.” Technical guide, St. Paul, MN.
3M. (2010). “3M™ VHB™ structural glazing tapes: Technical guide.” St. Paul, MN.
3M. (2011). “Glazing with acrylic foam structural tape.” 〈http://solutions.3m.com/3MContentRetrievalAPI/BlobServlet?lmd=1233078195000&locale=en_WW&assetType=MMM_Image&assetId=1180609356177&blobAttribute=ImageFile〉 (Jan. 29, 2018).
AAMA (American Architectural Manufacturers Association). (2009). “Recommended dynamic test method for determining the seismic drift causing glass fallout from a wall system.” AAMA 501.6-09, Schaumburg, IL.
ASCE. (2010). “Minimum design loads for buildings and other structures.” ASCE 7-10, Reston, VA.
ASCE Committee on Curtain Wall Systems. (2013). Curtain wall systems—A primer, A. M. Memari, ed., ASCE, Reston, VA.
ASTM. (2004). “Standard test method for determining rate of air leakage through exterior windows, curtain wall, and doors under specified differences across the specimen.” ASTM E283-04, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2014a). “Standard test method for structural performance of exterior windows, doors, skylights and curtain walls by uniform static air pressure difference.” ASTM E330/E330M-14, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2014b). “Standard specification for aluminum and aluminum-alloy extruded bars, rods, wire, profiles, and tubes.” ASTMB221-14, West Conshohocken, PA.
ASTM. (2014c). “Standard specification for aluminum and aluminum-alloy sheet and plate.” ASTMB209-14, West Conshohocken, PA.
Austin, S. R., and Burns, D. M. (2008). “Relating artificial weathering testing to service life estimation of acrylic foam structural glazing tape systems.” Proc., 3rd Symp., Durability of Building and Construction Sealants and Adhesives, A. T. Wolf, ed., ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA.
Austin, S., and Manert, U. (2008). “Acrylic foam structural glazing tapes.” Proc., 11DBMC Int. Conf., Durability of Building Materials and Components, Globality and Locality in Durability, A. N. Türkeri and Ö. Şengül, eds., Istanbul Technical Univ., Istanbul, Turkey.
Broker, K. A., Fisher, S., and Memari, A. M. (2012). “Seismic racking test evaluation of silicone used in a 4-sided structural sealant glazed curtain wall system.” J. ASTM Int., 9(3), 1–22.
Dow Corning. (2006). “Structural silicone glazing from Dow Corning: Changing the face of the world cities.” Dow Corning Corporation. 〈www.dowcorning.com/content/publishedlit/62-1465-structural-silicone-glazing-solutions.pdf〉 (Aug. 15, 2017).
Dow Corning. (2011). “Silicone structural glazing manual.” Form 62-0979H-01, Seneffe, Belgium.
Geiss, P. L., and Brockmann, W. (1997). “Creep resistance of pressure sensitive mounting tapes.” J. Adhes., 63(4), 253–263.
Heitman, B. T. (1989). “Structural engineering properties of acrylic foam tapes.” M.S. thesis, Michigan Technological Univ., Houghton, MI.
ICC (International Code Council). (2015). “2015 International building code (IBC).” ICC, Country Club Hills, IL.
Kremer, T. (2005). “Useful design criteria for acrylic foam tapes in demanding industrial application.” PSTC Tech 28, Pressure Sensitive Tape Council, Oak Brook, IL.
Memari, A., Chen, X., Kremer, P. A., and Behr, R. (2006). “Seismic performance of two-side structural silicone glazing systems.” J. ASTM Int., 3(10), 1–10.
Memari, A. M., Chen, X., Kremer, P. A., and Behr, R. A. (2012a). “Prediction of seismic failure of silicone sealant in two-sided structural sealant glazing systems.” J. Archit. Eng., 16–26.
Memari, A. M., Fisher, S., Krumenacker, C., Broker, K. A., and Modrich, R.-U. (2012b). “Evaluation of the structural sealant for use in four-sided structural sealant glazing curtain-wall system for a hospital building.” J. ASTM Int., 9(4), 1–16.
Memari, A. M., Hartman, K. H., and Kremer, P. A. (2011). “Racking test evaluation of EN-WALL 7250 unitized curtain wall system with 3M™ VHB™ Structural Glazing Tape.” Penn State Univ., University Park, PA.
Memari, A. M., Kremer, P. A., and Behr, R. A. (2012c). “Seismic performance of stick-built four-side structural sealant glazing systems and comparison with two-side structural sealant glazing and dry-glazed systems.” J. ASTM Int., 1(1), 1–22.
Salisbury, C., Garmendia, I. U., and Worswick, M. (2007). “High rate deformation of VHB Tapes.” Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, Univ. of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada.
Townsend, B. W., Ohanehi, D. C., Dillard, D. A., Austin, S. R., Salmon, F., and Gagnon, D. R. (2010). “Evaluating the performance and durability of acrylic foam tapes for structural glazing applications.” PSTC Tech 33, Pressure Sensitive Tape Council, Oak Brook, IL.
Townsend, B. W., Ohanehi, D. C., Dillard, D. A., Austin, S. R., Salmon, F., and Gagnon, D. R. (2011). “Characterizing acrylic foam pressure sensitive adhesive tapes for structural glazing applications—Part I: DMA and ramp-to-fail results.” Int. J. Adhes. Adhes., 13(7), 639–649.
Townsend, B. W., Ohanehi, D. C., Dillard, D. A., Austin, S. R., Salmon, F., and Gagnon, D. R. (2012). “Developing a simple damage model for the long-term durability of acrylic foam structural glazing tape subject to sustained wind loading.” J. Archit. Eng., 214–222.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Architectural Engineering
Volume 24 • Issue 2 • June 2018
Copyright
© 2018 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 1, 2017
Accepted: Aug 30, 2017
Published online: Mar 12, 2018
Published in print: Jun 1, 2018
Discussion open until: Aug 12, 2018
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.