Structural Analysis and Design of Glazed Curtain Wall Systems

Abstract

Glazed curtain wall systems have been gaining popularity in recent times, and are commonly found in all types of commercial, industrial, institutional and residential buildings. The design of curtain wall façade systems covers aesthetic considerations, weather proofing and structural evaluation. Structurally the curtain wall is designed for in-plane and out-of-plane loads and movements. The size and the profile of the glazed curtain wall are normally specified by the architect, while the structural design is undertaken by façade engineers. There is very limited published literature available on the structural design for engineers especially for the design of point fixed glazed curtain wall systems. In this paper, an overview of the methodology for the design of both unitised glazed curtain wall systems and point fixed glazed curtain wall systems is presented.