Glass columns : their potential in structural engineering

Abstract

" ... the development of all-glass structures is an important element in the creation of an architecture concerned with the disappearance of enclosure ... ", Wigginton (1996). Glass has increasing potential in future constructions due to its high strength combined with its unique properties. It is a common, versatile material and is transparent to light. Glass exhibits brittle behaviour, but it is relatively hard and durable, it is dense and non-porous and is generally resistant to corrosion. Codes and open literature specify permissible stresses for glass plates subject to lateral loads and with different support conditions. However, there is no published literature which investigates the effect of glass members subject to in-plane compressive loading. This work investigates the behaviour of a glass-adhesive column of cruciform section, subject to in-plane compressive loads. The dissertation starts with an overview of major developments in glass processing that led to the use of glass as a structural material. Further, the composition of glass and its properties are discussed. In particular, the study looks into the performance of float, laminated and tempered glass specimens when subject to an applied stress and their fracture characteristics. An appropriate adhesive is then chosen for the fabrication of the glass-adhesive cruciform column. Theoretical considerations and calculations, are first presented, which assess the behaviour of the column under in-plane loads. These are followed by experimental work and the results obtained are discussed.