Exploratory study on simple hybrid or pre-stressed steel-glass I-beams under short-term bending – Part 1: experiments

Due to glass intrinsic brittleness and unpredictable failure behaviour, several research studies are focused on the development of safe design concepts for structural elements, component details or composite systems. In this regard, the paper aims at assessing the bending performance of a relatively novel composite solutions for glass beams, and namely presents major experimental outcomes from full-scale bending tests performed on I-shaped hybrid (HB) steel-glass beams. In accordance with earlier literature efforts, such a design concept embodies additional steel flanges to traditional glass web, and thus can provide relevant ductility to the so assembled composite systems. Even further redundancy and ductility capacities can then be obtained by introducing in the so-assembled HB beams an external pre-stressing system of cables (PSHB). Key aspects of the design concept are however represented by detailing choices, as well as to the assembly strategies, and multiple aspects should be properly taken into account. Major experimental outcomes and comparative behaviours are hence discussed in the paper, based on a series of four full-scale prototypes, with a focus on the observed global deformations, measured strains and qualitative distribution of crack patterns.