Glass Beams DesignStructural Problems with Glass Beams and a Guideline for

Architects Based on Current Research and Technology

By Lei FuMaster of Building ScienceSchool of Architecture

University of Southern California

CommitteeChair:           Goetz SchierleMembers:   Douglas Noble

Anders CarlsonGail Borden

1/8Apple Retailer on Fifth Ave. New York 

Properties of Glass - compared

Mechanical and Thermal Property of Glass2/8

Glass Structures by Jan Wurm

Properties of Glass Beams

Mechanical and Thermal Property of Glass

Stress-Strain Comparison Lamination

3/8Buckling of Glass Beams

Peter Robert Crompton/ 1999

Facade Group LLC/ 2001 Andreas Luible/ 2005

Strength Prediction-Monolithic

Griffith Flows on Glass Surface

4/8

Glass in Building by David Button and Brian Pye

Theoretical Strength:8 KN/mm2 (11600 ksi)15‐20 KN/mm2

Maximum Tensile Strength Observed:2KN/mm2 (2900 ksi)By Gorden in 1976

Accepted Strength of Annealed Glass: 25‐30 N/mm2 (2.9‐4.35 ksi)

Safety factor of 2.5 or 3

In Plan Bending  v.s.Out of Plan BendingShort Term v.s. Long Term

Usable Design Strength?Simplified View of Molecular Structure of GlassGlass Structures by Jan Wurm

Surface Scratch, Pilkington Technology Centre, Lathom,

UK

Strength Prediction-Lamination

Lamination Process of Glass5/8Glass Structures by Jan Wurm

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Stress Concentration on Connection

Stress Concentration and Distribution on Connection

6/8Glass Structures by Jan Wurm

Pattern of CrackStructural Glass Engineering‐a 

Review of Project Specific Testing by Benjamin Beer

Finite Element Analysis Method

Shear Strength CalculationStructure in Architecture by G.G. Schierle

Calculation Method of Point Connection

Lateral Torsion and Buckling

3/8

Slen

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1. Limit of span.2. Connection Selection3. Structure System

Products and Problems*Products: An design system that helps architects understand how glass

beam works and choose the right glass type, glass size on their project.

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*Problems: Researchers have done a lot of work in every aspect of glass and glass beam design, and some of them are have already published their work and data. However, as a result of the impurity of glass and so much mysteries. No one can draw an solid conclusion of the glass.

Thanks