Laminated glass tubes as structural units in architecture and civil engineering

Abstract

A new type of large-sized glass tubes has been developed by laminating a load bearing inner core tube with protecting and supporting outer half shells. Additionally, for high loads to be transferred, the eontaet zone between glass and support material has been studied. The result is - contrary to common judgment - that in this ease the permissible stretching strain of the support material should be higher than the compressive stress to be transferred. In this way laminated glass tubes meet the essential requirements of architecture and civil engineering by: - tolerating high compressive stress (up to 60 MPa) without any failure, - maintaining high residual strength under load even after serious damage. It is hoped that the structural suitability of glass will be noticed by technicians and that this will succeed in reducing the reservations that still exist vis-a-vis this attractive, high-calibrated material. It gives not just architects, but civil engineers, interior designers, lighting specialists and others a new perspective, enabling them to design and build more transparent, more elegant and hopefully lighter-weight structures.