Abstract
Within multiple design challenges, the lateral torsional buckling (LTB) analysis and stability check of structural glass members is a well-known issue for design. Typical examples can be found not only in glass slabs with slender bracing members but also in facades and walls, where glass fins are used to brace the vertical panels against input pressures. Design loads such as wind suction give place to possible LTB of fins with LR at the tensioned edge and thus require dedicated tools. In the present investigation, the LTB analysis of structural glass fins that are intended to act as bracers for facade panels and restrained via continuous, flexible joints acting as lateral restraints (LRs) is addressed. Geometrically simplified but refined numerical models developed in Abaqus are used to perform a wide parametric study and validate the proposed analytical formulations. Special care is spent for the prediction of the elastic critical buckling moment with LRs, given that it represents the first fundamental parameter for buckling design. However, the LR stiffness and resistance on the one side and the geometrical/mechanical features of the LR glass members on the other side are mutually affected in the final LTB prediction. In the case of laminated glass (LG) members composed of two or more glass panels, moreover, further design challenges arise from the bonding level of the constituent layers. A simplified but rational analytical procedure is thus presented in this paper to support the development of a conservative and standardized LTB stability check for glass fins with LR at the tensioned edge.
Highlights
It is recognized that glass represents a structural material, with an increasing number of applications in buildings
E present study investigates the sensitivity of the elastic critical buckling moment for structural glass beams in lateral torsional buckling (LTB) as a major effect deriving from the presence of continuous lateral restraints (LRs) at the tensioned edge. e problem is typical of slender glass fins that are used to brace facade panels under wind suction
E presence of LRs, makes the LTB response markedly different from laterally unrestrained (LU) members. e current analytical study is first developed for fully monolithic LR members in LTB. e effects of geometrical
Summary
It is recognized that glass represents a structural material, with an increasing number of applications in buildings. Literature efforts can be found for several loading and boundary configurations of technical interest, including investigations on glass columns [7,8,9,10,11], beams [12,13,14,15], members under combined design loads [16, 17], plates under compression or shear [18,19,20], and proposals of generalized design buckling procedures [21, 22]. E present study investigates the sensitivity of the elastic critical buckling moment for structural glass beams in lateral torsional buckling (LTB) as a major effect deriving from the presence of continuous lateral restraints (LRs) at the tensioned edge. Simple formulations of practical use are developed to capture the LTB trends of a given LR member. e proposed analytical approach is validated with the support of finite element (FE) numerical analyses [27]. anks to a linearized procedure, as shown, the proposed empirical equations can support an efficient and reliable estimation of the theoretical LTB capacity with LRs
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