• Kothe, Michael
• Wünsch, Jan
• Christiane, Dr. Kothe
• Weller, Bernhard

Abstract

The wide acceptance of glass as a building material encourages many requests for transparent, almost dematerialized appearing building envelopes. The building material glass is not only used as space enclosing element in modern architecture, rather it is found increasingly in structural applications like fall protection, safety glazing and walkable or overhead glazing. Those require glass structures, which are involved in the load transfer. State-of-the-art integration of glass ele-ments in buildings are point and linear fixings which are usually designed mechanically. However, glass is a brittle material which makes mechanical fixings unfavourable especially in regard to the occurring high stress concentrations near the necessary boreholes. Hence, an increased risk of glass breakage results. A better adapted solution are load-bearing adhesive connections which are still used successfully in civil engineering in some glass applications as well as in concrete, steel, wood or plastic and track construction. However, the technology of adhesive bonding through bonded point fixings is not common due to the high administrative and experimental effort for obtaining an individual technical approval (ZiE). Adhesively bonded point fixings and fittings represent an advantageous alternative to conventional bearing connections. In addition to cost savings, the absence of boreholes especially causes constructive facilitation. Generally, a more homogeneous stress distribution in the load introduction area arises by using bonded point fixings. Further benefits of bonded fixings are the reduction of mechanical connection elements, associat-ed with higher quality aesthetics and an increase of creative freedom in façade design.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• polymer
• glass
• glass
• steel
• wood