Curtain walls are needed to resist earthquake disasters
- ■ In 1995, the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Japan and the Great Chichi Earthquake in 1999 in Taiwan, the epicenter intensity was above 11 degrees, and the masonry filled walls and conventional glass windows were largely damaged. However, even the glass curtain wall, there are few earthquake damage reports. Most of them are well preserved after the earthquake.
- ■ The Institute of Structure of the Chinese Academy of Building Research has conducted seven shaking table tests of various types of building curtain walls. The results show that even when the input acceleration of the table reaches 0.9g (equivalent to a 10 degree earthquake), the structural displacement reaches 1/60 or more. The curtain wall was not damaged, maintaining good performance.
- ■ The masonry-filled wall cracks at 1/1000 displacement and breaks at 1/300 displacement. It will be damaged even in a small earthquake, and severely damaged in a moderate earthquake. The reason is that it has poor deformability in its own plane and is filled into the main structure without relative displacement. It is forced to vibrate together, which will eventually cause damage. Traditional glass windows are roughly the same. Therefore, the earthquake damage is very serious in the earthquake.
- ■ The wide seams and special connection structure of the building curtain wall enable it to withstand large displacements and large deformations from 1/100 to 1/60. Similar to the leaves relative to the branches and the curtain relative to the platform, no matter how the main structure shakes, the curtain wall can be safe.
- ■ During the earthquake, high-rise buildings towered into the clouds and oscillated violently. Only the curtain wall can ensure seismic safety, will not collapse and fall, and prevent casualties.
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