Investigations of Glass’s Structural Potential SUNY at Buffalo : Material Cultures
Graduate Students : Timothy Ruhl and Olivia Arcara Professor : Georg Rafailidis
Our presentation in and investigation into the joining of glass. In our investigations of glass as an architectural system one thing that remained consistent in all precedent studies is that the glass was always held into place using a foreign material. Glass curtain walls use a combination of foreign objects to support the structure. The curtain wall relies on silicone and metal spider clips to hold the glass in place. Our question is how can we join glass together without the need of a supporting material? This investigation into the joint looks into glass’s inherent structural properties. We know that glass works better in compression than in tension, and that glass wants to be small. By using these two strong points of glass we have developed a series of designs and construction methods focusing on the creation of a modular system that relies solely on glass’s natural strength of compression, and friction.
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Case Study Renzo Piano
IBM Travelling Pavilion 01
IBM Pavilion’s 1983 - 1986 Paris, France
02
Close up of PETG Panels
03
Section and Elevation detail of joints and structure of pavilions modular construction, and integration of systems.
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In 1983, IBM devised a travelling exhibition to promote advances in computer technology for telecommunications. The pavilion is a transparent tunnel, sitting on a raised platform that houses its supporting services. It is 48m long, 12m wide and 6m high. In order to facilitate easy assembly, disassembly and transportation, the enclosure is made of modular, repetitive elements of wood and polycarbonate. These elements are connected together by carefully crafted aluminium joints to form the weathering envelope as well as its structure. The tunnel vault is composed of 34 self-supporting segments, each of which contains a row of 12 polycarbonate pyramids. The pyramids sit on a pair of timber arches and are also connected at their apex by timber arches. Together, these arches and pyramids form a three-dimensional lattice truss, with the timber as the top and bottom elements, connected by the polycarbonate surfaces. In order to keep the arches to a suitable size, each one is composed of two sections pinned together at their apex. They are also pinned at their connection to the supporting base.
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Case Study Renzo Piano
Sulfur Extraction Facility 04
Axonometric of the full length construction of the Facility
05
Working section of the sulfur extraction process.
06
Photograph: Elevation of the completed sulfur extraction facility
07
Photograph: The Sulfur Extraction Facilities construction process workers bolting connections.
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Built by Studio Piano in Pomezia Italy, this barrel vault consisted of fiberglass panels in a moveable structure. The panels were taken down from one end and added to the other as the mining process moved down the line. As the FRP panels did not degrade under the fumes caused by the sulfur extraction process, and were lightweight enough to be easily moved, it was the ideal material for this specialized structure. Each panel weighed only 14 kg, and was translucent enough to allow sunlight to the interior. One area of study was investigating how best to use new and non-traditional construction materials – such as polyester and its derived products, including fiberglass. The physical properties of materials were studied and experimented with – lightness, strength, flexibility, facility of fabrication and assembly. This research would not only determine how these materials might be used most appropriately, but also enabled the development of new structural forms that exploited the material’s characteristics.
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Study Models Tessellations Medium - Paper 08
Water Box Tessellation / folds flat in on itself.
09
Tessellated Arch / works great in compression, one point pressure transfer of forces down toward the ground, allows for strength and stability of form.
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Case Study Joints
Japanese Joinery 10
CNC Wood corner joint, purely decorative for furniture.
11
Japanese Wood Joinery locking system to prevent separation.
12
Series of complex wood joinery system for furniture design.
13
Interlocking tile design prevents tiles from shifting, locking the pattern in place.
14
Complex CNC joint systems for furniture design.
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Potential Systems Interlocking Beams Modular Form 15
Inspiration taken from a wooden CNC carpentry joint. Interlocking of curvilinear geometries prevents shifting of connections due to tension without the need for any additional joining methods.
16
Interlocking Beams / Axonometric Addition of scale, by elongating the geometries a series of interlocking beams creates a shifting of planes that create a potential space that can form truss like system enable to with stand great loads.
SHEATHING EXPLORATION: MODULE
SHEATHING EXPLORATION: MODULE SHEATHING EXPLORATION: MODULE
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ING EXPLORATION: TESSALATION ONE
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TIM RUHL, OLIVIA
Potential Systems Interlocking Beams Modular Form 17
Inspiration taken from a wooden CNC carpentry joint. Interlocking of curvilinear geometries prevents shifting of connections due to tension without the need for any additional joining methods.
18
Interlocking Beams / Axonometric Addition of scale, by elongating the geometries a series of interlocking beams creates a shifting of planes that create a potential space that can form truss like system enable to with stand great loads.
INTERLOCKING BEAMS: TRIANGEL
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CKING BEAMS: TRIANGEL
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Case Study Igloo Inuit Culture 19
Depiction of Igloo wall.
20
Diagram indicating the method of construction.
21
Depiction of Inuit Village including igloos.
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Through studying the Igloo it was found that they were constructed in a spiral pattern which allowed for one to be built without any support structure. This along with the fact that snow binds with its self very well created a starting point for looking into blocks and the geometry of them.
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System Diagrams Parabola Compression 22
Typical Stone Arch Construction
23
Section of typical Igloo dome construction methodology.
24
Dome vault construction / Forces of compression on the construction of a perfect half sphere dome.
25
Parabola arch construction / Forces of compression acting on the parabola with weight more evenly distributed moving outward and down into the ground at a more evenly distributed rate.
Similar in construction to an arch an igloo like dome structure relies on the forces of compression. The key stone of the arch holds the structure together with no addition of any additional mortar or bonding agents. The inherent properties of glass allow for the material to withstand impress large loads when dealing with the forces of compression. By looking at precedent studies of forms and architectural characteristics of structures working with the forces of compression the hope is to discover a new building systems that allows the glass’s natural tendencies to create a building methodology relying on its structural properties of compression
BLOCK EXPLORATION: SECTION
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High Stress Low Stress
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Potential Systems Stacking Blocks Modular Form 26
Plan drawing of potential system.
27
Elevation of potential system.
28
Axonometric of potential system.
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Based on the Igloo, this design is meant to take the natural bonding in snow, the material used to build Igloos, and create a geometry that mimics this locking. The design takes advantage of the compressive nature of glass in order to create structure.
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Case Study Masonry Brick Patterns 29
Typical masonry construction techniques.
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Case Study Masonry Brick Patterns 30
Simple stacked ice construction.
31
Straight stacked wall
32
Running bond wall
33
Running bond wall on an incline
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Case Study Masonry Brick Patterns 34
Running bond wall with pointed top and bottom
35
Running bond with pointed sides
36
Running bond with pointed sides, top and bottom
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Case Study Masonry Brick Patterns 37
Multi-faceted brick with rounded edges
38
Running bond imposed on a cylinder
39
Multi-faceted brick with rounded edges stacked as running bond
40
Bricks stacked in a spiral to create an igloo
High Stress Low Stress
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Case Study Masonry Brick Patterns 41
Multi-faceted brick rendered with transparency
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System Diagrams Tangent Lines Compression
Parabola section of the igloo with blocks tangent to a the central axis
Plan of Parabola Igloo with blocks perpendicular to tangent lines.
x
x
2x
Parabola of brick in plan, based off of tangent lines to a central circular plan.
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Variation of Brick Length in Plan Based off of change in radial spacing
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9"
6"
6"
Formation of blocks Perpendicular to the Parabola
Light Rays Offset of wall thickness
x
6"
Light Rays
Refraction of light hitting the joint
8"
8"
Forces of Compression
1"
1" 2
1 1" 2
Parabola is fromed from the midpoint of the tangent lines
High Stress Low Stress
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Offset of wall thickness
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System Diagrams Tangent Lines Compression 42
Cross section of multi-faceted block.
43
Force Diagram on multi-faceted block
Offest Thickness
Section Cut
Hollow Block
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Technical Methods Plaster Molds Slip Casting 44
Foam invested in plaster
45
Slip cast
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Technical Methods Plaster Molds Slip Casting 46
Foam invested in Plaster
47
Slip cast
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System Diagrams Vault and Dome Construction 48
Potential systems which could be created with glass blocks.
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Case Study Hagia Sophia
Dome Connections 49
Hagia Sophia dome sits at the centre of the church. It is between two half domes which together equals to the diameters of the dome. The dome is built by brick and mortar, (102 ft 6 in) diameters and is (182 ft 5 in) high.
50
Section of the Church showing its use of multiple domes and its connection system.
51
Hagia Sophia Dome is carried on four pendentive and these preventives enable its transition into the square shape of its piers below. These preventives distribute the weight of the dome to the walls under it.
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Construction Methods Blown Glass Lamp Mold Making 52
The hand-blown mercury lamp fills a room with a delicate light based upon the direction it is inclined.
53
Mold of the Inner glass wall
54
Mold of the Outer glass wall
55
The outer wall of the lamp inside the glory hole.
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Construction Methods Glass Blocks Mold Making 56
Glass blocks created using refractory clay molds
57
Stacked glass blocks
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Molds Glass Casting Light 58
Stacked glass blocks using light to highlight the joints
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System Diagrams Aperture Diagram Construction 59
Aperture diagram connecting a camera lens to how a dome can be made.
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System Diagrams Variations Construction 60
Variance within blocks
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System Diagrams Variance/Tolerance Construction 61
Variance within the glass system
60째
60째
60째
5"
5"
93 8"
93 8"
60째
6"
6"
6" 6"
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System Diagrams Variation Construction 62
Variance within the glass system. This allows for multiple spaces to be created with the family of blocks.
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System Diagrams Variance Diagram Construction 63
Diagram showing the limitations of one of the blocks.
60°
93 8"
5"
60°
6" 6"
6"
4"
100°
55 8"
5"
4"
4"
6"
6"
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4"
6"
100°
6"
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60°
100°
55 8"
85 8"
6"
60°
100°
System Diagrams Oculus Construction 64
With making a dome and oculus would be included. By changing the design of the block slightly the oculus became tighter.
PLAN
SECTION: MINIMUM DOME HIGHT
PLAN: 65 DEGREES ROTATION
PLAN : 60 DEGREES ROTATION
SECTION: 65 DEGREES ROTATION
SECTION : 60 DEGREES ROTATION
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System Diagrams Oculus Construction 65
By changing the block yet again the oculus becomes even tighter.
100째
100째
6"
93 8"
3" 98
6"
1" 88
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7"
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System Diagrams Oculus Construction
Variance within the blocks used.
10"
66
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System Diagrams Oculus Construction 67
Diagram showing the limitations of the family of blocks that is used.
3" 98
60째
6"
85 8"
100째
4" 6"
100째
93 8"
11" 116
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System Diagrams Parameters
Glass System
Parameters Construction
Offset Wall thickness Increased strength and weight
Section Cut
D = Diameter of circle determines Plan’s width
Hollow Block
Optical Qualities due to lens like curves
xº
D D²
D¹ Segment of circle determines the angle of rotation
Maximum Rotation 60 Degrees from center point
Increased Tolerance when D² = D¹ D² > D¹
Distance from Center points Minimum distance is where the midpoint intersects with the 2nd circles perimeter Plan radius can never be more than 180 degrees Section radius can never be more than 180 degrees
Families - Implications of Parameters 100°
60°
100°
93 8"
85 8"
3" 98
6"
4" 6"
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6"
7"
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System Diagrams Plan and Section
Plan and Sections
Paramaters Construction
A
A
B
B
PLAN 1-1
1
1
SECTION A-A
1
1
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System Diagrams Axonometric
Axonometric
Paramaters Construction
Wide Segments Increase tolerance smallest occulus
Narrow Segments Curvature of the Dome
Linear Segments Compression Rings
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System Diagrams Interior Perspective Construction
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System Diagrams Fabrication Construction
Mold?
Glass Artifact
Hot Glass Methods - Blowing
3"
6"
3" 416
1 8"
3" 416
1.5” dia. hole blow pipe insert
1 8"
3"
6"
6"
4 3" 16
Mold Handles 3”X6” 3/4” dia. rod Registration marks
Industrial Production - Plunger Steel Plunger Glass
Steel Plunger Glass
Halves get fused post process
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Construction Methods Glass Blocks Mold Making 68
Clay Bisque-wear funnel attached to refractory mold to allow for a full cast mold
69
Process: Refractory clay two piece mold with clay damn
70
Process: Refractory clay molds in glass kiln, with stainless steal wire to act as synch straps to hold in place for firing process.
71
Two fully formed multi-faceted glass bricks with funnels attached from firing process.
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System Diagrams Glass Blocks Light
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Construction Methods Glass Blocks Mold Making 72
Prototype One refractory mold
73
Prototype Two refractory mold
74
Foam Brick Prototype Two joint construction linking of two domes together for possible pavilion formation.
75
Foam Brick Prototype Two construction of joint connecting domes.
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Corning Glass Hot Glass Methods Blowing Glass 77
Prototype One hot blown glass torching to close steel blow pipe connection
78
Prototype One Plaster mold with graphite spray mold release
79
Hot blown glass post methods smoothing out imperfections with metal spring Jacks.
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