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Minimum Mass Cast Glass Structures Under Performance and Manufacturability Constraints

Koniari, A.M. (author), Andriotis, C. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author)

This work develops a computational method that produces algorithmically generated design forms, able to overcome inherent challenges related to the use of cast glass for the creation of monolithic structural components with light permeability. Structural Topology Optimization (TO) has a novel applicability potential, as decreased mass is...

conference paper 2023

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The adhesively-bonded glass brick system of the Qaammat Pavilion in Greenland: From research to realization

Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author), van der Velden, M. (author), Ikonomidis, Konstantin (author)

An adhesively bonded, solid-glass brick pavilion has been designed by Konstantin Arkitekter as a landmark within the Aasivissuit – Nipisat UNESCO heritage in Greenland. The sculptural glass structure, measuring approximately 3.2 m in diameter × 2 m in height, faces a diverse set of engineering challenges compared to existing adhesively bonded...

journal article 2022

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Topologically optimized cast glass: A new design approach for loadbearing monolithic glass components of reduced annealing time

Damen, J.T.W. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author), Turrin, M. (author)

Up to now, fabricating cast glass components of substantial mass and/or thickness involves a lengthy and perplex annealing process. This has limited the use of this glass manufacturing method in the built environment to simple objects up to the size of regular building bricks, which can be annealed within a few hours. For the first time,...

journal article 2022

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Adhesive solutions for cast glass assemblies: Ground rules emerging from built case studies on adhesive selection and experimental validation

Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author)

Cast glass is a promising, three-dimensional expression of the material for architectural and structural applications, particularly for the creation of all-transparent, self-supporting structures and envelopes. Typically applied in the form of solid blocks, cast glass components can be used as repetitive units to comprise fully-transparent, cast...

journal article 2022

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In Between: An Interlayer Material Study for Interlocking Cast Glass Blocks

Dimas, M. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bilow, M. (author)

Interlocking cast glass assemblies are a promising solution for architectural cast-glass applications aiming for high transparency and a reversible structure that allows the reuse of the glass components (Oikonomopoulou et al.,2018; Oikonomopoulou,2019b). In such a system, an interlayer material between the glass elements is essential, to assist...

conference paper 2022

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Reinforced glass: Structural potential of cast glass beams with embedded metal reinforcement

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author)

The shaping freedom of cast glass in combination with the robustness of the resulting voluminous components opens up new, exciting directions in the field of structural glass. Yet, cast glass components remain brittle, limiting their structural applications in hyper-static compressive structures designed with conservative safety factors....

conference paper 2022

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Cast Glass Architecture in Extreme Conditions

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author)

journal article 2022

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Topologically optimized structural glass megaliths: Potential, challenges and guidelines for stretching the mass limits of structural cast glass

Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Koniari, A.M. (author), Damen, J.T.W. (author), Koopman, D. (author), Stefanaki, M.I. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author)

This paper introduces the use of structural topology optimization (TO) as a new design approach that enables the creation of monolithic load-bearing cast glass components of substantial dimensions with significantly reduced annealing times, rendering such components viable in terms of manufacturing. Using topology optimization, the glass mass...

conference paper 2022

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Glass up-casting: a review on the current challenges in glass recycling and a novel approach for recycling “as-is” glass waste into volumetric glass components

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author)

This paper presents the casting of volumetric glass components from glass waste as an alternative glass-recycling approach. The approach is characterized by its flexibility to accommodate a variety of compositions and ability to yield volumetric (solid or thick-walled) glass products that can tolerate higher contamination rates without a...

journal article 2022

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On the flexural strength and stiffness of cast glass

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Veer, F.A. (author)

Cast glass has great potential for diverse load-bearing, architectural applications; through casting, volumetric glass components can be made that take full advantage of glass’s stated compressive strength. However, the lack of engineering, production and quality control standards for cast glass and the intertwined ambiguities over its...

journal article 2021

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Exploratory Study on the Fracture Resistance of Cast Glass

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Veer, F.A. (author), Nijsse, R. (author)

The emerging interest in the architectural applications of cast glass components reveals a knowledge gap on the mechanical properties of cast glass. Apart from its chemical composition, cast glass is characterized by its manufacturing history and thermal profile, often inheriting a set of defects that define its properties. The role that...

journal article 2021

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Rethinking the Cast Glass Mould: An Exploration on Novel Techniques for Generating Complex and Customized Geometries

Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bhatia, I.S. (author), van der Weijst, F.A. (author), Damen, J.T.W. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author)

This paper explores two alternative mould fabrication technologies that allow for the casting of (solid) glass components with a great degree of freedom in shape and size and/or of a customized design, in a cost-efficient way. In specific, the paper discusses the research, design and experimental work conducted at TU Delft on 3D-printed sand...

conference paper 2020

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Recycled Glass Mixtures as Cast Glass Components for Structural Applications, Towards Sustainability

Anagni, G.M. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Rigone, Paolo (author), Mazzucchelli, Enrico Sergio (author)

The problem of sustainability represents one of the most important issues that the world has to face nowadays, not only in terms of energy consumption and of the consequent CO2 emissions, but also in terms of material waste streams that end in landfill. 38 million tons of glass waste are produced every year in the European Union and new targets...

conference paper 2020

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An Adjustable Mould for the Casting of Glass Voussoirs for the Construction of Fully Transparent Shell Structures

van der Weijst, F.A. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bilow, M. (author)

TCompared to flat sheets of float glass, cast glass components have a thicker geometry and thus a high buckling resistance. This buckling resistance in combination with the high compressive strength of glass make cast glass components suitable for the construction of fully transparent shell structures that are mainly subjected to compressive...

conference paper 2020

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Investigating the flexural strength of recycled cast glass

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Yu, R. (author), Veer, F.A. (author), Nijsse, R. (author)

Currently, tons of high quality commercial glass are down-cycled or landfilled due to contaminants that prevent close-loop recycling. Yet, this glass is potentially a valuable resource for casting robust and aesthetically unique building components. Exploring the potential of this idea, different types of non-recyclable silicate glasses are...

journal article 2020

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The effect of manufacturing flaws in the meso-structure of cast glass on the structural performance

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Veer, F.A. (author), Nijsse, R. (author)

The success of projects such as the Crystal Houses façade in Amsterdam has triggered an increasing interest from architects, engineers and glass producers in the development and application of structural cast glass components. This interest raises, simultaneously, the needs for a controlled manufacturing process, a system for quality control and...

conference paper 2019

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Structural cast glass components manufactured from waste glass: Diverting everyday discarded glass from the landfill to the building industry

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Justino de Lima, C.L. (author), Veer, F.A. (author), Nijsse, R. (author)

Although in theory glass can be endlessly re-melted without loss in quality, in practice only a small percentage gets recycled, mainly by the packaging industry. Most of the discarded glass fails to pass the high quality standards of the prevailing glass industry – due to coatings, adhesives, other contaminants or incompatibility of the recipe –...

journal article 2018

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Interlocking cast glass components, Exploring a demountable dry-assembly structural glass system

Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author), Barou, L. (author), Jacobs, E.A.M. (author), Frigo, Giulia (author), Veer, F.A. (author), Nijsse, R. (author)

This paper explores the potential of a novel, reversible all-glass system consisting of dryassembly, interlocking cast glass components. Owing to its interlocking geometry, the proposed system can attain the desired stiffness with the aid of minimal, if any, metal framing. The use of adhesives is circumvented in the system by employing a dry,...

journal article 2018

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The potential of cast glass in structural applications: Lessons learned from large-scale castings and state-of-the art load-bearing cast glass in architecture

Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Bristogianni, T. (author), Barou, L. (author), Veer, F.A. (author), Nijsse, R. (author)

This paper investigates the potential of cast glass structural components in architectural applications. Initially, the commonly applied casting methods, glass types and mould types are discussed. To address both the possibilities and limitations in the size and form of cast glass components, an overview of the largest monolithic pieces of...

review 2018

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Cast Glass Components out of Recycled Glass: Potential and Limitations of Upgrading Waste to Load-bearing Structures

Bristogianni, T. (author), Oikonomopoulou, F. (author), Justino de Lima, C.L. (author), Veer, F.A. (author), Nijsse, R. (author)

Although in theory glass can be endlessly remelted without loss in quality, in practice only a small percentage gets recycled, mainly by the packaging industry. Most of the discarded glass fails to pass the high quality standards of the prevailing glass industry -due to coatings, adhesives, other contaminants or incompatibility of the recipe-...

conference paper 2018