Seismic fragility functions for light-frame wood walls and pressure sensitive adhesive air barrier systems used in building envelopes

Limited information is available on the seismic performance of air barrier tapes. This paper presents seismic fragility curves for pressure sensitive air barrier tapes and light-frame wood walls developed from large-scale testing of light frame wood walls incorporating an air barrier tape, subjected to a cyclic displacement protocol. Separate damage states for the air barrier tapes and the light-frame wood walls are presented, ranging from light to complete damage. The fragility curves show a high probability for horizontal air barrier tapes to fail prior to extensive failure of the wall, which may cause undiagnosed air leakage through the building envelope.