Search for: All records

Polyhedral Graphic Statics (PGS) is an effective tool for form-finding and constructing complex yet efficient spatial funicular structures. The intrinsic planarity of polyhedral geometries can be leveraged for efficient fabrication and construction using flat sheet materials, such as glass. Our previous research used PGS for the form-finding of a 3 m-span, modular glass bridge prototype to be built with thirteen unique hollow glass units (HGUs) in a compression-only configuration. This paper reports its design optimization, fabrication, and subsequent modular assembly process. The computational modeling of the geometries is facilitated with the efficient half-face data structure provided by PolyFrame, a software that implements PGS. Regular float glass and acrylic are selected as the main structural materials, and they are fabricated using 5-axis water jet cutting and CNC milling techniques. With the help of 3 M™ Very High Bond tape, the glass parts and acrylic parts are bonded as HGUs, which serve as the basic structural and assembly modules. Surlyn sheets are used as interface material to prevent glass-to-glass direct contact between HGUs. The digital model is also simulated using ANSYS to ensure the effectiveness of the design. Due to the lightweight of the HGUs, the assembly of the bridge can be done by one person without the requirement of any heavy construction machinery. 

Designed with Polyhedral Graphic Statics (PGS), a geometry- based structural form-finding method, Tortuca presents an efficient and innovative structural system constructed by the dry assembly of thirteen hollow glass units (HGU). It also proposes a new language for glass that is carefully treated, structurally informed, fabrication-aware, and environmentally responsible. Each HGU of Tortuca is made of 1 cm (3/8 inch) glass deck plates and 2 cm (0.7 inch) acrylic side plates precisely cut with 5-axis abrasive waterjet cutting and CNC milling to match the structural geometry. The structure spans 3.2 m (10.5 ft) with a mass of only 250 kg (550 lbs), where the float glass is the primary loadbearing material. Thanks to the efficiency and light weight of the construction system, a single person can assemble and disassemble the structure without needing a crane or additional labor. Moreover, this research explores the potential of using an extremely delicate material such as float glass for the primary structural system to encourage minimizing the material and energy demands in buildings and infrastructural projects. Additionally, it shows how utilizing the material in its purest format could simplify the recycling process after the life cycle of the structure has ended. Also, this research project is achieved by collaboration across different institutions, from design to engineering, from theoretical to practical, and from academia to industry. We appreciate the value of breaking disciplinary boundaries and joining forces from multiple fields.