Operational reliability of suspended facade structures with variable thickness of the cladding layer

The article presents the results of laboratory tests of experimental samples for mechanical safety, aimed at obtaining data pertaining to the performance of protective and decorative brick facade structures on metal substructures. The designs of the samples are atypical, with a different arrangement of bricks in the face layer and with ledges evenly distributed over the surface of the sample. Based on the test results, structure behavior under load, the absolute values of the displacement of the cladding layer, and the values of the bond strength between bricks and mortar were established. During the tests, the displacement of the protective and decorative structure in the direction of the applied load and the values of the forces, corresponding to the strength limit, were recorded.The article addresses the issue of the lack of rules for the design and testing of suspended facade systems made of bricks on metal substructures in the regulatory and technical documentation of the Russian Federation.