Enhancement of the seismic performance of multi-storey buildings by means of dissipative glazing curtain walls

Glazing facades are widely used in building structures, due to a series of aesthetic, thermal, lightening aspects. From a structural point of view, under the action of exceptional loads as impacts, explosions or seismic events, the glazing envelopes often represent the critical component for multi-storey buildings, due to the typically brittle behavior and limited tensile resistance of the glass panes, hence requiring specific design concepts. In this paper, the feasibility and potential of special mechanical connectors interposed at the interface between a given multi-storey primary building structure and the glazing facade are extensively investigated via accurate Finite-Element models, under the action of a set of seven natural seismic records. As shown, the proposed vibration control devices can markedly improve the dynamic performance of the traditional structure, both in terms of global (i.e. building seismic response) and local performances (i.e. at the component level). The final result, once the input parameters of the vibration control devices are properly designed, is an assembled structural system in which the glazing façade works as passive control system for the primary structure.