Semi-Probabilistic Calibration of a Partial Material Safety Factor for Structural Silicone Adhesives - Part I: Derivation

This paper deals with the application of the semi-probabilistic design concept (level I) of Eurocode 0 in order to calibrate partial safety factors for structural silicone sealants. In the first part of this article the current legal situation for the application of structural sealants in façades is described, where a new Eurocode-conform design concept is introduced and compared to existing design codes (ETAG 002) or national design protocols (DIBt concept). Basic background on semi-probabilistic modelling and the general framework for deriving partial material safety factors at a level I stage for structural sealants is given then. The main part of this publication is concerned with determining the specific partial material safety factors for DOWSIL 993 silicone using existing experimental data, which were obtained under the ETAG 002 testing protocol. It is found, that the correct level I calibration of that partial material safety factors are significantly lower compared to currently existing estimates and thus allow for a great optimization of structural sealant design situation with potentially high economical as well as sustainability benefits.