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.

Projektgruppen har fått i uppdrag att ta fram ett produktutvecklingskoncept utifrån en befintlig produkt ur ErgoSafe AB:s sortiment. Det finns ett stort intresse för höj- och sänkbara glasräcken där krog- och restaurangbranschen dominerar. Uteserveringar försedda med ClickitUp är inte lika utsatta vid sämre väderförhållanden, vilket ger möjlighet till längre och fler besök. ErgoSafe har identifierat en betydande anledning till varför försäljningen inte har gått som befarat, som beror på att flertalet kommuner förbjuder ingrepp i markbeläggningen. Examensarbetet kommer att bistå ErgoSafe i deras arbete för att förenkla tillväxten i försäljningen genom att ta fram en modulanpassad variant som inte kräver markingrepp. / The project group has been commissioned to produce a product development concept, based on an existing product called ClickitUp from ErgoSafe AB’s product range. The market has shown a great interest for height adjustable glass railing. Where the restaurant and tavern sector is dominant. An outdoor seating provided with ClickitUp are not as vulnerable to adverse weather conditions which is likely to result longer and more visits, since it will prolong the outdoor season. ErgoSafe has identified a significant reason the sales have not been going as good as planned, since most municipalities prohibit intervention in the ground around the restaurants. This thesis aims to assist ErgoSafe AB in their work to simplify the growth of sales by developing a modular variant that does not require ground intervention.