Experimental assessment of the static mechanical behaviour of the steel-glass adhesive joint on a 1:2 scale tensegrity floor prototype

Abstract

The present work deals with the construction and verification of a 1:2 scale prototype of a modular system of a lightweight floor made of steel and glass with a tensegrity type load-bearing frame. In particular, the proposed study tests the applicability of the adhesive joint on the “Tensegrity Floor” (Patent No. 00014426973).The Tensegrity Floor is a hybrid structural system characterised by an adhesive joint between steel and glass, which allows structural cooperation between the glass deck and the metal substructure, improving the structural system.Initially, an experimental campaign was conducted to characterise the materials. The design of the nodes and joints is the result of a joint analysis aimed at studying the distribution of stresses on the nodes and on the adhesive layer, in order to optimise the profiles used. The experimental results confirm the applicability of the adhesive joint in the tensegrity system for horizontal closures, estimating the maximum deformations compatible with the limitations imposed by the building codes.In the final phase of the research, a 1:2 scale prototype was realised and subjected to static load tests, allowing to verify the real behaviour of the structural model.