Bespoke Solutions, One Blackfriars

The present study aims to evaluate the strains induced to the cladding system by the deflection of the supporting structure, as supplied by Yuanda’s Engineers. The model of the supporting structure provides absolute displacements of the supporting points but does not provide relative displacements of adjacent supports as linked by the cadding panels.

The Yuanda’s cladding design assumes that each cladding panel is rigidly fixed to the supporting steel frame with joints that allow a free of lateral movement. Waterman have two concerns with this system. Concern 1, a proportion of this movement allowance could be used up in installation tolerances. Concern 2, the residential movement zones could be exceeded by the displacements of the steel frame. With these concerns in mind we have checked these structure under analysis results for two situations :

Firstly we have checked the racking and warping displacement of the supporting steel frame relative to a rigid glass panel. We would then need to review these displacement with Yuanda ‘s permissible tolerances and movement allowances.

Secondly we have checked the strains and warping curvature in the glass assuming there is a rigid connection between glass and supporting steelwork. This check replicates a worst case scenario that the movement joints have either locked up or been closed up due to installation tolerances.