The experience of structural glass
Description
Glass is an amorphous solid, often transparent, and has versatile practical, technological and decorative applications in things like windows, tableware, decorations and optoelectronics.
It is only recently that a new one has been added, namely constructive applications.
Glass was not often used as a structural material in the past. After all, it is brittle and it is not easy to fabricate large structural elements.
On top of that, there was a considerable prejudice against glass as a structural material. Glass is known to be fragile. It is directly associated with shards. Quite a few sayings are linked to it, such as "shards bring luck" and" throwing in your own glasses".
History of glass
Glass, occurring in nature as volcanic obsidian, has been used by mankind as early as the Stone Age. There is evidence that the first real glass was made on the coast north of Syria, Mesopotamia and ancient Egypt.
Its use as window glass was introduced to our area by the Romans here, probably because they found it too cold here. It was still a primitive production method; they poured molten sand over a stone.
The first (glass-blown) wide flat glass windows saw the light of day in the 13th century.
The decorative possibilities of glass were also discovered early on, first of all in jewellery. In churches, stained glass windows were elevated to true art. Later, Gaudi, among others, reintroduced that art.
Constructive glass
For several decades now, much has changed in the glass world. The quality of glass has greatly improved and combination with other materials compensate for glass's vulnerabilities. Laminated glass incorporates various types of plastic film, leading to material systems that can crack but not break. It has been amply demonstrated that it is possible to manufacture safe glass structures in the form of stairs, beams and floors. The image of glass as being prone to breakage means that for many people, walking on a glass floor is a special experience that is often perceived as scary.
AGC Westland
AGC Westland is part of AGC International and is part of the AGC Fabrication Network. It has about 100 employees and makes glass components for the construction, marine, and greenhouse industries. A visit to AGC Westland is particularly interesting because the main processing techniques of glass can be seen there. Cutting, grinding, drilling, sawing, hardening, laminating, insulating and all kinds of additional, value-adding operations.
The programme starts at 6.30 p.m. and will consist of a guided tour, and a presentation on machining, and calculation of glass structures by Joris van der Vleuten. Rob Nijsse of TU-Delft will give a presentation on, among other things, cast structural building elements made of glass
The programme starts at 6.30pm and will consist of a guided tour and introduction about AGC by Anton Peters, a presentation on machining and calculation of glass structures by Joris van der Vleuten. Rob Nijsse from TU-Delft will give a presentation on, among other things, cast structural building elements made of glass. Anton Peters will also discuss a new development in glass.
18:30 Reception with coffee and a sandwich
18:50 Guided tour and introduction AGC - Anton Peters including a 10 min presentation on a new innovative type of glass: AGC Japan, represented by Mr. Laurent Teper, will present: AGC Leoflex™. AGC Leoflex™ opens the door to new groundbreaking opportunities for glass. Leoflex is chemically strengthened and 5 times stronger than thermally tempered soda lime. This allows the designer new opportunities to create thinner, curved designs, while maintaining the safety and beauty of tempered glass.
19.30 Edit and calculate glass structures - Joris van der Vleuten
20.10 Pause
20.20 Cast structural building elements from glass - Rob Nijsse
21.00 Discussion
21.30 End
Location
Aartsdijkweg 23, 2676 LE Maasdijk
Organiser
Industrial Design
MaterialDesign / Innovative Materials
Name and contact details for information
MaterialDesign at the e-mail address below
Register via
MaterialDesign via e-mail
info@materialdesign.nl