The design approach is currently very diverse for glass. It differs greatly between European countries and there is not one definite method for the design of glass components. Research in this field has a potential for better design optimization and industry professionals express a limitation of tools and knowledge about glass structure design.The purpose of this study is to analyze glass balustrades with point-fixings and to test a structural verification approach using a Finite Element (FE) software. The theory provides insight of glass as a structural material, different interlayers used for laminated glass, joints and connections, as well as design standards, concepts and regulations. Different models of varying configurations and geometries are created from the evaluation of balustrades with point-fixings available on the Swedish market and the theory. The models represent a glass balustrade with 4- or 6-point-fixings and is regarded as a fully toughened laminated glass component with different stiff and standard interlayers. The structural analysis of point-fixed glass balustrades on the Swedish market indicated a lower stress and deflection resistance capacity than the pre-normative Eurocode criterion. Based on the FE calculations, some guidelines for fulfilling the criterion are proposed.To make glass more generally applicable as a load-bearing material, the limitations of the FE-software, and how the parameters affect the calculation results needs to be taken into consideration. In order to evaluate the interlayers used for the model, a parametric study using FE-analysiswas carried out, in which the maximum stresses and deflections for several variations were calculated. A sensitivity analysis of the balustrade was conducted to evaluate various geometric and material parameters and how they affect the FE software-based model. Comparisons of guidelines and national codes for simplified hand-calculation and the FE-approach were made to obtain some understanding of calculation methods used in the glass industry and to evaluate the results of the structural analysis. The study suggests that the FE approach is an effective method for a relatively quick and easy verification of glass balustrades.

Modular housing is an important segment of the factory-built housing industry, in the Mid-Atlantic. In 1998, a study was conducted to assess the structural needs and requirements of this industry. This study addressed three questions. (1) What is the current and future state of the industry? (2) What structural material trends are present between 1992 - 2000? (3) What opportunities exist for product substitution and development of new structural materials? This study found that the modular housing industry in the Mid-Atlantic region is growing. The greatest barrier to market expansion is transportation costs. Expansion is expected in the South and Midwest regions of the US. Most competition comes from site-built and manufactured homebuilders. To stay competitive, respondents plan to increase customization options and home size. The need for cost effective, quality structural materials is a growing concern. Softwood dimensional lumber has been decreasing since 1992 and is expected continue to decrease through 2000. Decreases are due to design changes and quality concerns. The use of engineered lumber has increased in order to compensate for decreases in dimensional lumber necessary to meet the structural needs of the industry. Using factor analysis and perceptual mapping techniques, dimensional lumber was not perceived to be as suited for structural building applications as engineered lumber. However, respondents felt that engineered lumber tended to be more expensive. Perceptual mapping also identified gaps between the ideal needs of building applications and the ability of current materials to meet those needs. Opportunities for new product development exist where gaps occurred. / Master of Science

En skolbyggnad har alltid varit en allmän plats som representerat samhället och dess brukare genom dess höga kulturvärde. Idag finns det många olika stommaterial att använda för att bygga en skolbyggnad. År 2016 blev Sveriges första skola byggd i massivträ klar. Lärare är bland de viktigaste faktorerna för elevernas utveckling, men även miljön de befinner sig i påverkar deras inlärningsförmåga och välmående. Syftet med studien är att undersöka om skolornas val av stommaterial samt utformning påverkar elevernas trivsel. Syftet är även att kunna bidra med kunskap till byggsektorn om hur en skolas fysiska miljö kan utformas. Genom enkätundersökningar erhölls data från tre olika skolor, med tre olika stommaterial, från tre olika tidsepoker. Resultatet visade att den största parametern för elevers trivsel var lärarna och klasskamraterna, därefter kom färgerna i skolan. / A school building has always been a public place that represents the society and its users. Today there are a lot of different structural materials to use to build a school building. In 2016, Sweden’s first school built in solid wood was completed. Teachers are among the most important factors in enchancing student’s development, but also the enviroment they are in, affects their learning ability and well-being. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether the schools’ choice of structural material and building design influences pupils’ well-being. The purpose is also to be able to contribute knowledge to the construction sector on how a school’s physical environment can be designed. A survey provided data from three different schools, with three different structural materials, from three different eras. The result shows that the most vital parameter for pupils’ well-being were the teachers and classmates, but also the colors of the school.

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