Seismic
StonePly panels can flex. In real world earthquakes and laboratory simulations, StonePly has proven its ability to flex, twist and move with the structure. While traditional stone slabs crack and break when stressed, StonePly’s composite structure allows the stone to flex with the aluminum. The stone is bonded to the substrate over every square centimeter of its surface, so it stays with the aluminum and flexes.
As a demonstration of this ability, we bent this flat StonePly panel over a mandrel forcing it to bend. Note that the stone stays bonded to the aluminum. While the stone flexes, it does so through micro cracks, too small to see. This property is also valuable for blast resistance of the material.
In earthquake prone regions, the use of StonePly offers several benefits over traditional stone panels and stone cladding.
- StonePly is lighter in weight than cast stone, granite, marble, travertine, limestone or precast concrete.
- StonePly is reinforced throughout. Because the aluminum is bonded to every square centimeter of the stone. there are no unreinforced areas in a StonePly panel to break off in an earthquake.
- StonePly has the ability to flex.
Because of the ability of StonePly to flex without breaking, is ideally suited for use in seismic zones. Unlike rigid stone panels, StonePly can accept a considerable amount of bending forces and vibration without cracking or breaking.
The two main considerations in the design of StonePly panels for use in seismic regions are:
- The anchoring system which ties the StonePly to structure.
- The jointing design which allows for the maximum wracking of the structure.
All the major building codes have maps of seismic zones, which rate various regions, depending on the potential severity of earthquakes in that region, and all designs should be in accordance with local building codes.
