Long-Term Structural Performance of IGUs: A Parametric Numerical Analysis

Glass facades are complex systems in which glass panes are required to interact with many other load-bearing and secondary components. As a matter of fact, they represent a physical barrier expected to offer long-term structural safety, functionality and durability. On the other side, many influencing parameters make them possibly vulnerable (especially glass) and thus eventually reduce their load-baring capacity, or functionality. The effect of different mechanical and thermal boundaries and loading conditions, ambient and long-term effects, affect especially insulating glass components with continuous modifications that can alter the performance of glass components, and also minimize their capacity. It is thus of primary importance, in support of an optimal maintenance strategy for facade systems, to possibly track their response in time, and prevent major faults or performance losses, or even risk for customers. However, key performance indicators to monitor the response of these composite systems should be first properly detected, and supported by a robust assessment of tracked registrations towards properly established alert values. This study explores in numerical terms the performance of insulating glass units, when exposed to ordinary and unfavourable loading conditions. Performance indicators, and their modification as a function of insulating glass components and loading conditions, are investigated to support the analysis and calibration of possible monitoring strategies in support of the implementation of an efficient early warning system for smart facades.