Fracture Strength of Structural Glass Elements: Analytical and Numerical Modelling, Testing and Design - Softcover

Haldimann, Matthias

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3838105346 ISBN 13: 9783838105345

Publisher: Suedwestdeutscher Verlag fuer Hochschulschriften, 2009

Synopsis

For centuries, the use of glass in buildings was essentially restricted to functions such as windows and glazing. Recent technological developments have now brought about unprecedented opportunities. Glass elements can today carry substantial loads and therefore achieve a structural role. The structural design of such elements, however, remains problematic. The lack of confidence in ?advanced? glass models and the absence of a generally agreed design method result in frequent time-consuming and expensive laboratory testing and in inadequately designed structural glass elements. The present thesis endeavours to improve this situation. After outlining the fundamental aspects of the use of glass as a building material, an analysis of present knowledge was conducted. Then a lifetime prediction model for structural glass elements, which offers significant advantages over currently used models, was established based on fracture mechanics and the theory of probability. Laboratory tests were performed and testing procedures improved in order to provide more reliable and accurate model input. Finally, recommendations for structural design and testing were developed.

About this title

About the Author

Dr Matthias HALDIMANN is Member of the Executive Board at Emch+Berger AG Bern, a Switzerland-based company offering engineering, planning and consultancy services. He received his master degree from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich (ETH Zurich) and his doctoral degree from the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

Edition details

• Publisher: Suedwestdeutscher Verlag fuer Hochschulschriften
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 3838105346
• ISBN 13: 9783838105345
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 224