Picture taken by: Ahsan Iqbal, 09.03.2009The above pictures are of a glass roof for the entrance of the car parking in Birmingham City University. This glass roof consists of a number of beams supporting the glass structure. At the top of the glass structure there are 4 long flat metal beams; the ends of which are joined to another metal beam that is then connected to the side. There is also a thin beam running across perpendicular to the long flat beams giving rigidity to the structure.
The weight of the structure is supported by additional two beams going diagonally across forming an X-shape figure that will actually help to give stronger support at the center; as the center of gravity lies at that point. The weight of the structure produces tension in the supporting metal beams, the wind adds on to this tension by producing a bending moment.
The accurate management of possible torsion and bending stresses produced by the wind is a key factor in the success of such a complex structure. The key elements of the design are: material strong enough to withstand the stresses produced, construction method of support to provide rigidity to the structure and durability of the structure as damage or destruction can have serious effects.
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