Journal of Architectural Engineering

Different aspects of architectural systems are discussed in this study. The definitions of architectural systems and their importance to the building community are presented. The functions of architectural systems are subdivided into primary and integrated functions. The analysis and design of architectural systems for both primary and secondary functions are explained. The applications of the recently popular concepts of performance-based engineering and multihazard considerations to architectural systems are discussed. Finally, the need for design guides for architectural systems is reasoned.

A three-dimensional large-eddy-simulation computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program, developed for studying the transport of smoke during a fire in an enclosure, is applied to four flow problems relevant to nonfire situations. This evaluation is relevant to the use of the program for indoor air quality modeling as well as its use in modeling the early phases of smoldering fires. The program uses finite-difference techniques to solve the Navier-Stokes equations, with an approach emphasizing high spatial resolution and efficient flow-solving techniques. Subgrid scale effects are addressed with the Smagorinsky model. The flow problems include simple geometries, with forced, natural, and mixed convection flows as well as a realistic test room with a displacement ventilation system and tracer gas release. Grid effects and computing time are investigated. Results are compared with the experimental data, and issues important to defining the problems in CFD are highlighted. In general the program predicts the experimental data reasonably well, with very fast computing times. However, care must be taken in defining convection from heated surfaces, and adequate grid resolution is needed to model the dispersion of a tracer gas in the enclosure.

Available literature indicates that considerable research efforts have been directed toward the “hardware elements” of the industrialized building systems technology. However, the hardware elements are only concerned with the structure itself. Nonetheless, to date, the “software elements” of the industrialized building systems, which are concerned with the data and information available on the system, users, clients, establishment of manufacturing and assembly layout and process, as well as allocation or resources and material, have received little attention. There is therefore a dire need to overcome the shortage in the software elements of the building system research. This paper reports a survey conducted on industrialized building system construction companies. The main objective is to present the building system technologies existing in Malaysia and to examine problems and constraints associated with these technologies.

Experiments were performed as part of a larger study to develop the “sacrificial ply” design concept for laminated architectural glass. This concept allows windborne debris impacts in severe windstorm environments to break the outer laminated architectural glass ply while the inner ply is preserved in order to carry the design wind pressure. Steel ball size and inner/outer glass ply type (level of thermal tempering) were varied to determine their effects on the impact resistance of the inner glass ply of laminated architectural glass when impacted on the outer glass ply. A mean minimum breakage velocity (MMBV) was determined for each variation in steel ball size and glass temper level, which defines the mean debris impact velocity on the outer glass ply that causes breakage in the inner glass ply. A 46% reduction in MMBV was observed for an increase in steel ball size from 2 g (7.9 mm diameter) to 8.4 g (12.7 mm diameter), and a 65% reduction in MMBV was observed for an increase in steel ball size from 2 g (7.9 mm diameter) to 28.2 g (19.1 mm diameter). Laminated architectural glass constructed with heat-strengthened or fully tempered inner glass plies, regardless of outer-glass-ply type, was found to have a significantly higher MMBV than laminated architectural glass constructed with annealed glass plies. In contrast, changing the outer glass ply from annealed to fully tempered glass was found to reduce the MMBV, regardless of the inner glass ply type. Relating these results to those in a previous impact study by Kaiser et al. suggests that the order of importance for design variables that most influence the inner glass ply impact resistance of sacrificial ply laminated architectural glass is the following, starting with the most important: (1) inner glass ply type; (2) inner glass ply thickness; (3) polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer thickness; and (4) outer glass ply thickness.