The Laminated Glass Column

E.J. van Nieuwenhuijzen, F.P. Bos & F.A. Veer, Delft University of Technology

A transparent column, consisting of two glass tubes laminated with a clear resin, has been developed during several years of ZAPPI research. Intensive testing led to a lamination process for columns on a scale relevant to building structures with close to perfect results. Compression tests showed safe, gradual and controlled failure behaviour compatible with the ZAPPI safety philosophy. This prescribes safe failure behaviour of transparent structural components rather than using gross over dimensioning to achieve safety. The composition of the column and the results of compression testing are discussed.

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The Authors

	Mr. Freek Bos ir. Delft University of Technology Freek Bos works as a Ph.D. researcher at the TU Delft Faculty of Architecture, where he graduated in 2002 (specializing in both Building Technology and Architecture) on form-finding as a design tool f... Read more
	Dr. Frederic Veer Dr. Delft University of Technology Frederic Veer has been involved in glass research since 1995, developing new combinations and structures which use glass as a structural material in innovative ways. Currently the author is head of a ... Read more