Bolted Glass Assemblies

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This is a structural glass assembly consisting of a series of specially processed glass panes, bolted together at their corners by means of ‘spider fittings’ or ‘metal patch fittings’ along with silicone sealant at the pane-to-pane joints. The minimization of metal framing members creates an effect of transparency that forms a natural and artistic blend between the indoor space and the outdoor environment. Different methods can be used to support the dead-load of the system and to provide lateral stiffness against wind-loading. Depending on the method used, the system is sub-divided into:

fin

The glass facade and glass fin is connected using stainless steel spiders. The top of the glass panels/fins are supported at the top, in order to withstand the dead-load of the system, either using bolts/welds (if steel) or anchor-fasteners (if concrete). Consecutive Glass fins are connected using bolted splice plates.

Tension Rod System

The composite structure is set up with the of ‘tension rods’ (stainless steel pipe structural members designed to always be in tension). The tension-rod structure withstands the exterior loading on the glass facade.

Steel Structure System

All the loading on the glass facade is transferred by means of stainless steel ‘spider fittings’ to a steel structure erected independently behind the facade

Cable System

A system of geometric non-linearity is set-up with the use of pre-stressed tensile cables that withstand the exterior loading on the facade system. The vertical cable also withstands the dead-load of the system.
This system is further subdivided into Cable Truss Systems and Cable Net Systems.

  • Cable Net Systems: The structure is based on the principle of the tennis racket, using a single–layer plane cable net structure (horizontal and vertical pre-stressed tensile cables), thus producing rigidity to withstand the exterior load.
  •  Cable Truss Systems: The structure uses a horizontal plane cable truss to withstand the exterior wind-load. The vertical cable plays a stabilizing role and takes the dead-load of the glass facade.