Back to Future: a Structural Glass Masonry. Mechanical Performance of Glass under Compression

Gianni Royer-Carfagni, Mirko Silvestri

Glass exhibits noteworthy mechanical properties and, in particular, a high compression strength, but its intrinsic brittleness renders its use in structural applications quite problematic. Here, we investigate the possibility of increasing the ductility of compressed glass by conceiving of a masonry-like structural system where “bricks”, made of float glass tiles, are connected by “mortar” joints, made of polymeric interlayers or epoxy resins. Uniaxial compression tests have been performed on cubes made of such a composite package and, for the sake of comparison, on cubes formed only by dry-piled glass tiles. The experimental results evidence two effects: the compression strength of the “glass masonry” is about one half of that of the dry-connected cubes, but the ductility is increased of one order of magnitude because, in the post-breakage response, a crucial role is played by the lateral stress (confinement) provided by the material placed between any two consecutive tiles. A possible practical application of this construction system, consisting in the design of an arch bridge in Venice completely made of glass, is presented.

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The Authors

	Prof. Gianni Royer-Carfagni Professor Department of Civi- Environmental Engineering and Architecture, University of Parma Civil Engineering Degree, University of Pisa (Italy) in 1990. PhD in Structural Engineering, University of Florence (Italy), in 1993. Post-doc associate, Department of Aerospace Engineering and Mechan... Read more
	Dr. mirko silvestri phd Stazione Sperimentale del Vetro Read more