An investigation on stress concentration of point-fixed bolted glass system subjected to static loading
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Date
2018-06
Authors
Farhanah Faisal
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Abstract
Bolted structural glass facades have evolved to the point where the technique
appears to have matured and become the most transparent facade system available mainly
for storefront, walkways and lobby areas in buildings. The point fixed glass façade
system (PFGFS), also known as a spider glass system, is popular and considered to be a
more elegant façade option compared to the framed glass façade system. The system is
fixed to the support structure using special bolt fittings and structural spider arms, which
implies that the glass must be drilled and tempered. Consequently, the glass is
significantly weakened exactly at the position where peak stresses occur when forces are
applied. In this research, the stress distribution on point-fixed bolted glass system
subjected to static loading are investigated by means of numerical modelling and
parametric analyses. A numerical model was constructed according to the specifications
specified in past research project, implemented using ABAQUS software and subjected
to a compressive load during three points bending test. The model was validated by
comparing the past experimental results with the numerical results. By means of nonlinear finite element analyses, the stress distribution of the glass panel has been
investigated. The influence of the number of connectors, hole-to-edge distance, spacing
of the bolt connections, hole diameter, arrangement of connectors and thickness of glass
pane on stress distribution were determined through the parametric study. Increasing the
number of bolts, the hole-to-edge distance, the bolt hole diameter and the glass thickness
as well as the diamond pattern of bolts arrangement, have shown the positive effect on
the maximum principal stress.