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Safe use of glass


Glass has similar strength and stiffness to aluminium but unlike metals it is a brittle material. The sudden and catastrophic failure of glass is unacceptable in some architectural uses and its post failure behaviour may be modified by laminating or filming the glass. Particular problems arise for sloping and overhead glass which may fall on failure unless steps are taken to retain it.
 
Our work has concentrated on the design and specification of glazing and glass supporting structures. This involves; risk assessment, knowledge of the glass behaviour (pre- and post-failure) and the design constraints arising from the many performance requirements of glazing in buildings.
 

 
  
Origin of a NiS failure in toughened glassNiS inclusion viewed under a scanning electron microscope

 
  | Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering