TRANSLUCENT PRE-FABRICATED STRUCTURAL CAST GLASS: A new unitized U-channel assembly (eight page paper)

摘要

A new type of translucent pre-fabricated structural cast glass modular assembly with high thermalrnperformance, good light transmission and acoustic rating.rnThe cast glass assembly is made from project specific 404mm wide low-iron U-channel cast glass.rnThe inner and outer channels have different surface finishes – the former to act as a white boardrnand the latter to facilitate auto-cleaning. Two U-channels are unitized into a ‘flange-to-flange’rnarrangement and are bonded together with 2-part structural silicone in a bespoke polyamidernextrusion. The cast glass assembly can span in excess of 4.2m without intermediate support orrnvertical mullions, and the overall thickness of the façade is only 144mm.rnThe assembly represents an innovation in large unitized U-channel cast glass elements that havernbeen fabricated and sealed off-site and installed on-site in modules of 4 channels wide generally,rnthus maintaining the quality of workmanship (especially the silicone) while facilitating a faster onsiterninstallation than any previous U-channel cast glass façade. Windows with cast glass externalrnlouvres are also inserted into the system without additional structural elements.