Application of C-FRP Strengthened Glass Beams in Façade Design

The paper concerns the application of a new reinforcing technique, based on the use of FRP bars, to design glass façade fins. The technique was developed by the authors starting from similar techniques proposed in the past by other researchers, but adopting an original way to glue the FRP bars to the glass. The design concerns the glass façade of the new headquarter of an Italian bank, which has already been built using a traditional steel frame supporting structure. The aim of the work is to explore the potentialities of the new glass reinforced beams to substitute the steel frame of the façade, which would become almost entirely of glass, with the exception of some stainless steel cables, needed to prevent the lateral-torsional buckling of the glass fins, and of the façade steel fixings. The design was extended also to the glass envelope (façade plane) and all the safety checks were performed according to prEN 13474-3. Furthermore, particular cares were used in the design of joints to avoid any undesired stress concentration in glass.