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Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades

Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.

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Main Author: Goosen, Alberto
Other Authors: Wium, Jan
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2007
Subjects:
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access_status_str Open Access
author Goosen, Alberto
author2 Wium, Jan
author_browse Goosen, Alberto
Wium, Jan
author_facet Wium, Jan
Goosen, Alberto
author_sort Goosen, Alberto
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv University of Stellenbosch
description Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007.
format Thesis
id oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/3009
institution Stellenbosch University (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:43:33.723Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
publishDate 2007
publishDateRange 2007
publishDateSort 2007
publisher Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
publisherStr Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
record_format dspace
source_str SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository
spelling oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/3009 Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades Goosen, Alberto Wium, Jan University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering. Theses -- Civil engineering Dissertations -- Civil engineering Glass construction -- Barrier-free design Parapets Civil engineering Thesis (MScEng (Civil Engineering)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. The introduction of toughened glass into the construction industry has had several significant consequences. For the first time, glass panels can be used without continuous edge supports, and as a result can be used as load-bearing element. An excellent and very common example of the use of glass as structural element is a freestanding glass balustrade. During an undergraduate investigation, a number of impact tests were performed on continuous supported freestanding glass balustrade panels at the University of Stellenbosch [6]. It was observed that none of the balustrade panels complied with the guidelines for impact loading stipulated in the SABS [7] loading standards. The failure to meet the loading requirements highlighted the need to investigate the design of glass balustrades. This thesis describes the investigation undertaken to determine the static- and dynamic loading capacity of freestanding glass balustrades. Following a review of South African and international design standards, the static- and dynamic material properties of toughened glass was established by means of a laboratory test series. The laboratory test series consisted of both a destructive laboratory test series and finite element analysis, the outcome of which determined the static- and dynamic material properties of toughened glass. The series also included the influence of different connection types. A second phase employed the identified material properties of toughened glass to determine the loading capacity of full-scale balustrades. Using finite elements each balustrade set-up was loaded as required by the relevant South African loading standards. The finite element analyses identified which balustrade set-ups could resist the required imposed loads. Finally, a second laboratory test series was undertaken, the aim of which was to verify the finite element results. The successful resistance of the tested balustrade set-ups confirmed the finite element model. Recommendation to the existing design- and loading standards are made based on the results of the thesis. 2007-11-16T09:10:24Z 2010-06-01T09:03:47Z 2007-11-16T09:10:24Z 2010-06-01T09:03:47Z 2007-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3009 en University of Stellenbosch 8702445 bytes application/pdf application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
spellingShingle Theses -- Civil engineering
Dissertations -- Civil engineering
Glass construction -- Barrier-free design
Parapets
Civil engineering
Goosen, Alberto
Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades
title Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades
title_full Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades
title_fullStr Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades
title_full_unstemmed Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades
title_short Structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades
title_sort structural capacity of freestanding glass balustrades
topic Theses -- Civil engineering
Dissertations -- Civil engineering
Glass construction -- Barrier-free design
Parapets
Civil engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/3009
work_keys_str_mv AT goosenalberto structuralcapacityoffreestandingglassbalustrades