STRUCTURAL GLASS FACADES - USC School of Architecture

grids at the interface area to align, which can impose a restriction on the vertical module.
Other factors unique to the application can also impact glass grid decisions.
Glass grid aesthetics: Another consideration is appearance and the desired aesthetic
affect. The glass grid is generally square of rectangular. Sometimes there is a preference to
the orientation of the grid, with rectangles arranged either horizontally or vertically. Both grid
dimensions can impact the performance of the supporting structure. Primary structural
elements such as trusses or cables are typically located at each vertical gridline, so the
determination of the horizontal grid dimension will dictate truss spacing, and thus the
tributary area of load acting on that member. The vertical module can have similar
implications.
Figure 7.15 shows a strong horizontal grid reflecting the relatively short vertical span and
long horizontal dimension of this glass wall. Note the widely spaced trusses at each vertical
gridline. The glass here is IGU point-fixed drilled. The horizontal glass dimension was too
long in this case to span unsupported, and an intermediate support had to be provided at
mid-span ( Figure 7.16).
Figure 7.15 Example of horizontal glass grid. Figure 7.16 Mid-span connection of long horizontal IGU.
Figure 7.17 and
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