Control of wind-Induced Motion of Tall Buildings Using Smart Façade Systems

The development of non-load bearing curtain walling technology around the turn of the 20th centre along with the effects to reduce the energy consumption of the building and dependence on artificial lightening, as well as the development of high performance glass and efficient building systems has seen architectural trends to move toward maximising glass surface areas in order to optimise natural daylight. This present study shows the potential offaçade systems potential to become an energy absorber of wind-induced vibrations. The façade has been rarely considered or designed as a potential wind-induced vibration absorber for tall buildings in the past. In this paper the potential of utilizing a moveable exterior façade in a double-skin façade is investigated and shown that with optimal choices of materials for stiffness and damping of brackets connecting the two skins, a substantial portion of wind-induced vibration energy can be dissipated which leads to avoiding expensive lateral stiffening systems and/or space consuming large damper systems such as tuned mass or liquid dampers. The work has demonstrated that up to 50% of response caused by winds can be absorbed by a smart and efficient façade design, including purely passive systems with constant stiffness and damping or better, by a smart a system possessing variable stiffness for different phases of façade movement.