Investigations of Cavity Pressure Behaviors of Double-Skin Façade Systems Subjected to Blast Loads

AbstractThe main function of a facade system is to provide comfort and protection to occupants inside the building. Glass facades are susceptible to severe damage due to their direct exposure to extreme loading conditions, such as blast. There is increasing popularity in the application of double-skin facade systems (DSFSs) in modern facade construction practice due to their high energy efficiency. In addition, when designed correctly, DSFSs exhibit a potentially higher capacity for blast resistance as opposed to single-layer facade systems. However, due to the complex fluid–structure interaction (FSI) between DSFSs and blast waves, there is a lack of design codes that address the structural response of DSFSs subjected to blast pressures. Understanding the behavior of the pressure within the DSFS cavity will facilitate the analysis of the blast performance of DSFSs. This paper reports an experimental program on analogical DSFSs made of steel as opposed to glazing panels, subjected to 250-kg equivalent TNT...