Field test to study the pressure equilization on air permeable facade elements
conference paper
The net wind load on the outer layer of a façade consisting of multiple layers is determined by the external
pressure and the cavity pressure. For an air-permeable outer layer, the cavity pressure is dependent on the extent
to which the external pressure equalizes over the openings. Minimizing the pressure difference between external
pressure and cavity pressure has benehcial effects with respect to the amount of fasteners needed for the
elements, thus saving material and avoiding unnecessary penetrations of the thermal insulation layer. Current
rules to determine the loads on such structures are very crude and conservative, and are based on very little
experimental evidence. A full scale experiment has been set up on a 158 m high tower in Rotterdam, the
Netherlands, in order to study pressure equalization in a ventilated cavity. The main interest of this study is the
net wind load on the outer layer of the façade. The first results showthat pressure equalization occurs very fast
and that the cavity pressures generally follow the external pressures rather well
pressure and the cavity pressure. For an air-permeable outer layer, the cavity pressure is dependent on the extent
to which the external pressure equalizes over the openings. Minimizing the pressure difference between external
pressure and cavity pressure has benehcial effects with respect to the amount of fasteners needed for the
elements, thus saving material and avoiding unnecessary penetrations of the thermal insulation layer. Current
rules to determine the loads on such structures are very crude and conservative, and are based on very little
experimental evidence. A full scale experiment has been set up on a 158 m high tower in Rotterdam, the
Netherlands, in order to study pressure equalization in a ventilated cavity. The main interest of this study is the
net wind load on the outer layer of the façade. The first results showthat pressure equalization occurs very fast
and that the cavity pressures generally follow the external pressures rather well
TNO Identifier
505764
Source title
ICBEST 2014. Building for a Changing World, June 9-12, Aachen, Germany
Pages
1-9
Files
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