Page 26 - European Energy Innovation - Winter 2016 publication

26 Winter 2016 European Energy Innovation

STRUCTURAL GLASS

COST Action TU0905 Structural Glass
– Novel design methods and next
generation products – A success story

By Jan Belis, Ghent University, Chair of COST Action TU0905

INTRODUCTION safety, robustness, and durability. glass is currently not incorporated in
Structural glass is a young and European design codes, which makes
challenging domain, which is gaining However, in spite of Europe’s its application even more challenging.
importance in building practice at pole position in research and new
fast pace. The use of glass in the built developments in this field, the COST ACTION TU0905
environment is evolving rapidly from scientific research in this domain “STRUCTURAL GLASS – NOVEL
traditional small windows to large area was rather fragmented and research DESIGN METHODS AND NEXT
structural glass and novel solar energy projects were often running GENERATION PRODUCTS”
products. These novel applications independently mainly in national The European “Cooperation in Science
impose new and increasingly onerous or regional research programs. and Technology” programme (COST)
performance requirements on glass, Furthermore, Structural Glass is usually offers a competitive, bottom-up
which are far beyond excellent not yet incorporated in academic funding opportunity for promising
building physical performance engineering and architectural research networks in all fields of
only. Indeed, load-bearing building engineering education although science and technology. Its projects
components such as beams, columns, knowledge transfer is required on both are known as “COST Actions”. The main
passable floors and shear walls require an educational level and a professional objectives of this COST Action were to
resistance, component and system level. Moreover, the structural use of provide a strong contribution to the

www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu