Development of timber-glass prefabricated structural elements

Abstract
In the normal application of glass in buildings, the glass panes are mounted in frames and designed to carry their self-weight, wind and snow loads, which are then transmitted to the supporting structure. The timber-glass concept is a composite system of glass and wood, with both components acting as the supporting structure. This article presents the problems related to such structures, and the solutions proposed by our research work. Finally, some examples of the practical application of this concept including an evaluation of its advantages over other systems of glass-facades will be shown.