Seismic demand assessment of structural glass systems based on simplified methods

Although glass is frequently used as a structural component for buildings and infrastructure (façades, floors, walkways, etc.), also in combination with other construction materials, the regulatory framework as a guideline for the design stage is still limited. Many studies, in this regard, have focused on the definition of glass material characteristics and structural behaviour under various design loads, especially unfavourable conditions. The aim of the present work is to verify the reliability of available simplified methods for glass systems during earthquakes, based on the definition of seismic response spectra, and to help define a robust method to verify seismic capacity through the use of specific fragility curves. Two case-study systems made of glass are examined. Seismic hazards of particular sites are considered for each limit state and soil type, and results of simplified calculations for rapid assessment of seismic demand are compared with more refined but computationally expensive finite element non-linear dynamic analyses.