Hurricane Resistant Curtain Wall System

Abstract

Puerto Rico is in the storm and hurricane trajectory zone. For the past years we have seen an increase in the quantity and intensity of these atmospheric phenomena due to climate changes. On September 20, 2017 Hurricane Maria impacted Puerto Rico, and was considered the worst natural disaster on record for the past 80 years. This system left catastrophic damage and human impact on the island. The National Weather Service considered it the tenth most intense Atlantic Hurricane on record and the most intense tropical cyclone worldwide. This project intends to create awareness regarding Puerto Rico’s vulnerability when faced with Mother Nature’s fury and how to incorporate a resilient design in future structures. The main purpose of this research is to provide a secure alternative to those who want to incorporate storefront and glazed assemblies on buildings located in vulnerable areas where the hurricane forces are more intense. Key Terms ⎯ Awareness, Hurricane Resistant Curtain Wall System, Hurricane Threats, Resilient Structural Design & Construction.