Glass can be used as a load bearing material. Glass elements under compression, bending and/or shear load are already used in high end projects, based on unique verifications by expensive full scale tests. With regard to future design standards (DIN 18800 Part 6; EC 10), new numerical design rules with buckling factors for glass panels will be developed. Load bearing glass components can be used in all glass structures or in hybrid structures made of glass and other materials (steel, timber, polymer or concrete). Besides the stability of the glass element the stress concentration at the load introduction points can be the limiting factor. Therefore adequate load introduction systems and related design rule must be developed as well.
Completed research projects
