(De) materializing detail: technology, structure, design. Development of a reinforced glass connection technique

This dissertation is motivated by the desire to investigate the impact of innovative materials and construction techniques on the materiality of the architectural object. In particular it intends to question the contribution of the structural use of glass on the redefinition of the constructed limit focusing on the detail of the connection between panels. The recent ability to reinforce glass with metal elements, similarly to what happened with the concrete in the past, offers important advantages, compensating the inevitable brittleness of glass. Contrary to concrete, the transparent qualities of glass determine that both the acts of reinforcing and connecting transcend the simple technical scope. It is considered that a close combination with other materials may provide additional conceptual and phenomenological value if conceived through an integrated approach. This research proposes to extend the concept of reinforced glass to the scope of the connection in order to dematerialize it. The goal is to develop a reinforced glass connecting technique that is structurally efficient and industrially feasible. The investigation is based on an integrated design approach applying two complementary experimental methods - laboratorial and industrial. Developed in parallel, they comprise on one hand a set of laboratorial tests to investigate the structural behaviour of the several load transfer mechanisms, on the other hand a direct contact with the various processing technologies of the materials that compose the system. Among the several sell-supporting structural configurations achievable with the connecting through the reinforcement system (prerequisite to ensure the transparent condition of the solution) the folded typology was selected for development and construction of a full-scale prototype. The final version of the detail results in a visually faded connection, not only for being composed entirely by transparent materials, but also for the rigorous simplicity of configuration and disposition between the parts. It demonstrates the capacity to dematerialize the connection element at the same time that selectively reinforces and materializes the glass panels.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctoral Thesis Architecture / Construction and Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2014

Author dc:creator

• Carvalho, Paulo Lopes Lago

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Cruz, Paulo J. S.
• Veer, Frederic A.

Statement dc:rights

• openAccess

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1822/35526

OAI record oai:identifier

http://repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt/oai/request?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=dim&identifier=oai%3Arepositorium.uminho.pt%3A1822%2F35526