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Design of a Reusable Float Glass System

Extending the Life Cycle of Primary Glass Structures

Student:

Mentors:

Minke Venus

Gabriele Mirra

James O’Callaghan

More information:

This research addresses the design of a reusable structural system made of float glass, a  durable and architecturally valuable material with significant structural potential. By  introducing modularity and spatial adaptability, the system aims to extend the lifecycle of  glass elements beyond conventional recycling. The final design is characterized by bent laminated glass modules of limited height that  dry-interlock, enabling easy assembly, disassembly, and reconfiguration without  compromising transparency. By varying the module-height sequence and interlocking angle,  the system can achieve multiple spans and adapt to diverse spatial requirements. A mixed-method approach was applied: literature research informed the conceptual design;  parametric studies explored the influence of design parameters on achievable spans and  resulted in a parametric tool that generates optimal configurations while minimizing global  displacement and simplifying assembly. Structural feasibility was verified through Finite  Element Analysis and full-scale laboratory testing. Analyses and experiments confirmed the feasibility of fully toughened laminated glass  modules (2×6 mm, 1 m long, 0.3–0.5 m high) in compression-active geometries spanning up  to 8 meters, offering a promising pathway toward circular structural glass applications.

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