Ventilated façades are complex non-structural elements composing the building system, the latter being intended as a unique system integrating both structural skeleton/components and non-structural items, owing for instance to issues of seismic performance and loss. In light of this, experimental response characterisation is of paramount importance, leading indeed to data gathering for key components or sub-systems, which in turn could inform numerical modelling efforts, with a view to design methodology definition.

Thus, this paper presents testing efforts meant to characterise the cyclic behaviour of brackets - connecting the panel elements in the façade system of interest - for both in-plane and out-of-plane earthquake-induced actions. Behavioural changes as a result of variations in bracket length and size were quantified, assuming prescriptions by FEMA461 for the displacement-controlled loading protocol that relies upon monotonic test counterparts for reliable definition of ultimate target displacement. Parametric test outcomes are presented with emphasis placed on stiffness and dissipation capacity for the case-study bracket typology.

Keywords: façade systems; component testing; in-plane testing; out-of-plane testing; response characterisation.