Performance of Exterior Sliding Glass Doors Subjected to Extreme Wind Pressures

The spate of extreme wind events in the recent past has negatively impacted building envelope components. The authors of this paper have performed numerous investigations to determine the effect of extreme winds interacting with these building envelope components, especially aluminum-framed sliding glass doors and windows. Closer examination of these doors and windows reveals conditions that are indicative of wind-induced stresses transmitting through the door and window components. During field investigations, we have frequently observed sliding glass door systems with their panel framing joints separated and/or rotated. To study the impact of extreme wind pressures on the sliding glass doors, a detailed three-dimensional finite element model of a typical aluminum-framed sliding glass door was developed. The computer model was created based on drawings available in the public domain and included both aluminum framing and glass panels. The computer analysis model incorporated nonlinear spring elements to model boundary conditions of the frame and glass and nonlinear stress-strain curves to represent the inelastic behavior of the aluminum framing subjected to wind loads. The computer model was subjected to monotonically increasing loading through nonlinear pseudo-static analysis. Results of the analysis were then compared and verified with field observations. The analysis confirmed that when the wind pressures on the sliding glass door exceed its rated design pressure capacities, panel framing joints bend out of plane and deform permanently. This was consistent with field observations of separations and flaring out of panel framing joints. Results from the finite element analysis complement field observations.