Earthquake Engineering Simulation with Flexible Cladding System

This research investigates the interaction between heavy precast cladding units attached to steel framed buildings. Cladding systems are designed as non-structural components and are not expected to contribute to the energy absorption of the primary structure. However, research has indicated that the cladding system may be designed to reduce the response of the primary structure under seismic excitations. The use of flexible connections between the cladding and primary structural frames may be able to provide beneficial effects to the entire structural response. In this study, a series of earthquake engineering simulations were conducted in OPENSEES to analyze the effects of the flexible connections of the cladding on both a 3 story and 9 story prototype structures. The research focus is on the 3 story structure. The results from 3 story and 9 story structures indicate that the flexible cladding connections have the ability to transfer hysteretic energy from the primary structure to the flexible cladding connections