Experimental investigation on the influence of silicone sealant on the seismic behaviour of precast façades

Silicone sealant is usually interposed between panels of precast façades. In ordinary cladding panel configurations, relative sliding between panels occurs under lateral actions. The shear drifts and consequent stresses arising in the silicone strips may lead to a significant increase of the load demand in the cladding panel connections and affect the seismic behaviour of the structural system. This paper presents the results of experimental tests and numerical analyses carried out to clarify the role of the silicone sealant on the seismic response of precast structures with cladding panels. An experimental campaign including monotonic and cyclic tests on both silicone strips applied to small concrete blocks and two panel sub-assembly sealed with silicone, has been developed at Politecnico di Milano. Furthermore, cyclic and seismic pseudo-dynamic tests on a full-scale prototype of precast building with cladding panels sealed with silicone, have been performed at the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission. The results of the experimental tests are presented and compared with the results of numerical simulations. Some recommendations for seismic design of precast frame structures with cladding panels, considering the effect of silicone sealant, are finally provided.