Load Carrying Capacity of Glass Columns with Rectangular, T and X Transverse Cross-sections

In this study, the load carrying capacities of glass columns with rectangular, T and X cross-sections having different lengths were calculated. The proposed analytical procedure allows to calculate the load carrying capacity associated with strength of transverse cross-section including local and global flexural and/or torsional buckling phenomenon. Moreover, initial imperfections and time dependant effects, the latter associated with the viscoelastic behaviour of interlayer (PVB), were included in the model as suggested in the literature. Those effects were calculated by introducing the equivalent thickness of glass panels, which takes into account the shear modulus of PVB and the viscoleastic behaviour of a composite. Failure of the glass panels connected with structural silicone was not considered. Experimental research recently conducted by the authors was utilised for comparison with the analytical prediction. Cases of study were those of compressed glass panels constituted by single tempered glass jointed between PVB, and compressed members having T or X tranverse cross-sections and constituted by single layered panels jointed between structural silicone. The analytical model had good prediction accuracy, and the experimental results were in agreement with the failure modes observed experimentally