MATHEMATICAL-MODEL FOR DURABILITY OF CLADDING

A building materials durability model (BMDM), developed in earlier wor k, is a framework that encompasses environmental stimuli, material dam age relationships, performance criteria, and repair decision making to produce predictions of long-term performance of building materials. T he framework of the model is able to accommodate a wide variety of bui lding materials used in different applications. The current study appl ied the model to two cladding materials for buildings; aluminum and pa int, Environmental stimuli included temperature, moisture, and impact of corrosive chemicals. The material damage models use environment as an input, and predict degradation of the cladding material. The rates of degradation in the mathematical models are tuned to fit existing da ta available in the literature. Quality of the cladding is calculated during the simulation, and repairs are triggered when quality falls be low a predetermined threshold. Initial quality of the material and the repairs contribute to the overall cost. The results show that this ge neral modeling tool gives the engineer a vehicle for assessing differe nt materials, different environments, and the consequences of differen t repair strategies in making durability design decisions.