Static finite element analysis of architectural glass curtain walls under in-plane loads and corresponding full-scale test

A pilot study has been conducted to guide the development of a finite element modeling formulation for the analysis of architectural glass curtain walls under in-plane lateral load simulating earthquake effects. This pilot study is one aspect of ongoing efforts to develop a general prediction model for glass cracking and glass fallout for architectural glass storefront and curtain wall systems during seismic loading. For this study, the ANSYS finite element analysis program was used to develop a model and obtain the stress distribution within an architectural glass panel after presumed seismic movements cause glass-to-frame contact. The analysis was limited to static loading of a dry-glazed glass curtain wall panel. A mock-up of the glass curtain wall considered in the analysis with strain gages mounted at select locations on the glass and the aluminum framing was subjected to static loading. A comparison is made between the finite element analysis predicted strain and the experimentally measured strain at each strain gage location.