What engineering considerations are critical when designing load-bearing glass wall curtains façades?

When glass wall curtains serve as load-bearing or partially load-bearing façades, structural engineering rigor is essential. Key considerations include defining load paths for wind, gravity, and lateral loads; ensuring glass and metal members can sustain imposed stresses; and controlling deflections to prevent edge stress concentrations. Glass used in load-bearing scenarios often requires structural interlayers, thicker plies or heat-strengthened laminates to provide necessary toughness.

Anchor design must account for pull-out resistance, shear capacity and fatigue from cyclic wind loading. Metal mullions may need internal stiffeners or steel inserts to meet moment demands while keeping sightlines narrow. Deflection limits (commonly L/175 to L/240 depending on glass type and project requirements) protect against glass breakage and serviceability issues like water penetration.

Thermal expansion and movement under live loads require flexible anchorage and movement joints; brittle connections must be avoided. For seismic regions, detailing must permit in-plane and out-of-plane displacements without transferring excessive loads to the glazing. Collaboration between façade, structural and wind engineers, supported by finite element analysis and full-scale mock-ups, validates that load-bearing glass curtain assemblies meet safety and durability targets in Middle East and Central Asian contexts.