COMPRESSIVE BEHAVIOR OF LAMINATED GLASS COLUMNS

Abstract

This paper examines the behavior in compression of glass columns having tee (T) transverse cross-sections. The work highlights the issues recurring in the design of glass columns in rapid diffusion in the transparent architecture such as: - flexural and torsional buckling; - long-term effects and effects related to the temperature; - glued connections between single panels. In the work expressions are given for the calculation of the loadcarrying capacity of columns. The cases of full connection and absence of connection between the panels are analyzed and discussed. The comparison between the analytical and the experimental results highlights that in the case of glass columns with T cross-section failure in the glued section and torsional buckling effects strongly limit the load carrying capacity of members. In these cases the analytical prediction of load carrying capacity with analytical expressions available in the literature allows good prediction and highlights that particular care should be placed on the design of glued section.