Cover Story Structural Cladding
Roles
of
Cladding, even though essentially the nonstructural secondary surface attached to the primary structural surface of the building, has a fitting effect structurally on the building, points out Prof. Charanjit S Shah, Founding Principal, Creative Group. Though it is merged with the primary face of the structure, it does not contribute to the stability on the whole. Regardless, it does play a structural role transferring wind loads, impact loads and its own weight back to the structure which implies that ample amount of strength is required both within the cladding system and its joineries for the primary face to ensure that it does not crumble under wind load pressures. Walinjkar too agrees with this statement. According to Rohan Keswani, Director, Aluplex India Pvt Ltd, curtainwalls and cladding materials are designed and engineered to withstand wind loads based on the topography and geometry of the building, the deadloads of the curtainwall, the live loads imposed, seismic loads and thermal loads, whilst also accounting for loads imposed on the cladding due to building movements such as column shortening and creep movement. The cladding is designed to limit the deflections of the cladding framework and infill panels within serviceability limits, as desired. More importantly, design and engineering checks are carried out to ensure that the
stresses within the façade elements are limited to the yield stress to ensure that there is no permanent deformation of the materials. Further, the framing members of the cladding are designed, engineered and checked to ensure that there is no buckling caused by the compression loads imposed in the axial direction (Euler Buckling), as well as, the compression loads imposed due to bending (by lateral torsional bending). In explicit, wind causes positive and negative pressure on the surface of buildings and cladding should have ample strength and stiffness to resist this load, each in terms of the types of cladding chosen and its connections back to the structure, explains Rajendra Shah, General Manager - New Age Products, Century Ply. Cladding can help to reduce mechanical and electrical energy needs, and so enhance electricity efficiency and lower the running costs, he adds.
Key Factors to be Considered While Designing and Selecting Materials for Cladding
AKasH SaINI
Director, Notion Flooring
PROF. CHaRaNJIT S SHaH Founding Principal, Creative Group
Cladding of any building requires engineering characteristics, should be aesthetically appealing, and should comply with visuals, says Rajan Govind, Director & Façade Specialist, BES Consultants Pvt Ltd. Selection of material depends on factors like the architectural intent of the
ROHaN KEswaNI
Director, Aluplex India Pvt Ltd
RaJENDRa SHaH Curved Metal cladding in a project by BES Consultants
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WFM l March - April 2018
GM - New Age Products, Century Ply