October 20, 1999

 

 

THE BUILDING ENCLOSURE AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR ENGINEERS—PROJECTS AND PROJECTS OVER THE LAST 10 YEARS

 

by

 

Dr. Eric F. P. Burnett

Professor

Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering

Pennsylvania State University

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

 

This talk will focus on the building enclosure—in particular wall and roof systems. The primary objective is to illustrate:

·         firstly, that the building enclosure is a very important engineered component of a building

·         secondly, that a building designer (architect, architectural engineer or structural engineer) must have some knowledge, if not the ability to design or assess enclosure systems.

·         thirdly, that there is lots of opportunity for research and development.

 

In doing so, I will discuss the following projects with which I have been associated:

·         The development of the Royal Building System

·         The design of the Skydome Roofing System

·         The development of a polymer modified, fabric reinforced, two-ply roofing membrane

·         The evaluation of a Pultruded FRP Wall System

·         The evaluation and use of stainless steel helical reinforcement