Glass, a material synonymous with modernity, offers unparalleled opportunities to merge functionality with visual appeal, hence creates a blend of aesthetic elegance and structural integrity. It allows for the creation of structures that embody clarity and continuity, enhancing the interplay between indoor and outdoor spaces. However, the use of glass demands a comprehensive understanding of its properties and the challenges it presents, including thermal performance and acoustic considerations. It is crucial, however, for designers to grasp the complexities associated with glass, including its behaviour under various loads and conditions. A critical focus on safety, particularly in terms of structural stability and impact resistance, is essential in the design of glass structures. This course will delve into the myriad of possibilities presented by glass in construction, equipping you with the fundamentals of building with glass.

This course will cover key aspects in the design of glass structures, will present different case studies and projects, and will give the latest update on innovations, circularity and the new Eurocode on glass . The agenda for the day will be:

1. Glass in buildings
The first lecture offers a comprehensive introduction to the use of glass in buildings, highlighting fundamentals such as glass production, material properties and different products. Behavioural dynamics such as stress corrosion, viscoelastic material behaviour of interlayers and load sharing in insulated glass units (IGUs), which are key aspects for the design of glass elements will be discussed.

2. Design of glass structures
In this lecture, the structural design of glass elements, aligning with current European standards such as EN 16612 and CEN/TS 19100, is delved into. Calculation methods are based on ultimate limit state (ULS) and serviceability limit state (SLS) design principles. However, for some glass elements and glass structures a fracture limit state (FLS) and post-fracture limit state (PFLS) has to be considered additionally. An update with respect to the development of “Eurocode 10: Design of Glass Structures” is presented as well.

3. Case studies and projects
The practical exploration of case studies and projects from the portfolio of Vitroplena that illustrate challenges encountered in the design and construction of structural glass architecture will be the topic of the third lecture. Successful implementation, complex problem-solving scenarios and technical considerations will be analysed and discussed.

4. Innovations and circularity
The final lecture will focus on cutting-edge advancements in glass engineering and the application of circularity principles in terms of the R-strategy framework within the glass industry.