Journal of Architectural Engineering

This paper introduces a panelized brick veneer over steel stud backup wall system to address some of the shortcomings of conventional systems. Thermal and hygrothermal analyses of the proposed wall system with different stud gauges and arrangements are discussed. The movement joint design aspects, a pressure moderation performance evaluation, the simulated wind-driven water penetration results, and an example cost analysis are also presented. This study provides information about some of the attributes of the proposed system such as crack resistance and water penetration potential as well as the pressure moderation aspect. Some of the issues that need consideration for the practical application of the system are also described.

Life-cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to assess product development processes “from cradle to grave” for many years. With the current push toward sustainable construction, LCA has gained importance as an objective method to evaluate the environmental impact of construction practices. A substantial amount of construction-related LCA work has been published recently; however, most of this work has been fragmented and a systematic compilation of this literature has not been undertaken. This article presents a structured review of building construction-related LCA literature, classified under four categories: LCA applications for construction products selection; LCA applications for construction systems/process evaluation; LCA tools and databases related to the construction industry; and LCA methodological developments related to the construction industry. Current challenges for using LCA in construction are discussed and potential areas for future research are highlighted. This review and similar efforts may provide the construction industry and associated researchers the necessary background to make better-informed construction decisions and assist the development of an agenda for further research.

This paper presents a finite-element modeling option to provide an analytical approach for a seismic analysis of dry-glazed curtain-wall systems. In this modeling approach, Ansys finite-element software was used to model the glass panel, aluminum glazing frame, perimeter rubber gaskets, rubber setting and side blocks, glass-to-frame clearances, and glass-to-frame contact once the clearance was overcome by in-plane drift. The results of the finite-element modeling of the curtain-wall system were compared with full-scale laboratory test results. The effect of some of the parameters such as gasket friction and aspect ratio were evaluated. The study showed that finite-element modeling is a viable approach for analytical evaluation of curtain walls. The modeling can function to predict the drift associated with glass-panel cracking. Further refinement of the modeling approach developed can increase the accuracy of the prediction.

The current North American design codes for wind loads have dealt with the unique characteristics of glass using the observed failure mechanism of static fatigue, which is based on the concept of damage accumulation as described by Brown’s integral. However, both the load resistance and the design loads have aspects that have not been fully validated because of available but limited experimental results, particularly with regard to fluctuating load patterns. With the recent development of a sophisticated pressure-loading device, precise, time-varying wind loads as well as conventional ramp loading were applied to annealed glass plates in this study. The measured results were consistent with Brown’s integral, confirming the conversion method from realistic wind-load time histories to equivalent static loads.

The glass failure prediction model has been used as a calculation method for the load resistance (LR) of glass specified in North American design codes. However, because of the technology available, this model has only been experimentally proven under ramp loading. The model also has several defects, which have been pointed out in recent years, some of which may originate from this insufficient experimental validation. Thanks to the newly developed technology at the University of Western Ontario, glass strength modeling was revisited with sufficient experimental results, including fluctuating wind loads of long time duration. In addition, the value of LR specified in the current North American design codes was examined in light of several assumed parameters used in its calculation.