Calculation of Point Bearings for Glass as Load-Bearing Element in Structural Engineering

Barbara Siebert

The only way for design is to analyse a glass plate with point-bearings in a satisfying manner is by means of a three-dimensional-FEM software system. Also vendors of such calculation software try to convince their costumers that handling their software is easy in order to sell it, there are many aspects to be considered.

The point-bearing itself and the surrounding area has to be modelled accurate to get close-to-reality results. The mesh of the elements is of great importance, the number of elements around the hole as well as the mesh in radial direction and there interaction have to be considered.

However, the quality of calculation is of course also depending on the software and on the points of output the program system uses. Due to the stress concentration at the edge of the holes only really calculated corner results should be used and no elemental output extrapolated to corners.

The data of the plastic material between glass and steel have a big influence on the results of the analysis as well as the correct modelling of gaps and contact.

Extensive tests proved that commonly used different plastic interlayer show comparatively behaviour. On basis of the tests and innumerable numerical FEM calculations suggestions for near-toreality modelling by FEM are given.

Investigation of the effects due to a change of different parameters is done in the actual research work.

Results of the actual research as basis for a future design method close to reality will be presented.

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