STRUCTUAL GLASS DESIGN OF HAND RAIL BALCONY

I.

General
1. Design Philosophy - PREAMBLE
The purpose of this calculation is to verify the thickness of glass and
its supporting structure for its integrity, strength and stability
verification. The result of this conclusion is that the structure
considered adequate in meeting the required of design criteria.
The glass used is 10mm thick tempered glass fixed using a bracket.
2. Unit of Measurement
Unit of measurement in design shall be in Metric system.

II.

Design Calculations
1. Design Code and reference:
BS 5950 1190: Structural use of steel work in building
BS 6399 Part 1: 1996 Staircase loading

Wind loads as per BS 6399 Part 2, 1997

2. Materials
40X40X4mm Thk. Angle bracket/fabricated wall mounded bracket
connected at ends and intermediate partition walls at maximum
distance of 3800mmc/c.

The modulus of elasticity of Steel E = 210000 MPa

Ultimate Bending stress steel Po - = 275 MPa = 275 N/mm2
Ultimate Tensile Stress steel Pa = 435 MPa = 435 N/mm2
Ultimate Shear Stress steel Pv = 0.6X Po = 0.6X275 = 96 MPa = 96
N/mm2
All bolts used shall be grade 8.8 or high yield.
GLASS PROPERTIES
10 mm thick Tempered Glass
The modulus of elasticity E = 72.7 MPa
The modulus of Shear G = 29.6 MPa
The modulus of Rupture = 41.4 MPa
Poisson Ratio = 0.23
Density = 24.525 N/mm2 per m thick sheet
Flexure Strength = 166 MPa = 166 N/mm 2

3. Loading
Dead Load Self weight is considered
The Forces acting on the Handrails apart from self weight
are as follows which is complying with the required
standards:

As per BS 6399 Part1 1996, Handrail shall be designed to resist a

load of 0.74 KN/m applied in any direction at the top and to transfer
this load through the supports to the structure.
As per BS 6399 Part1 1996, Handrail shall be designed to resist a
load of 1.0 KN/m2 applied to the infill.

Horizontal Load and moment acting at the support is calculated as

mentioned below:
Case 1:

Uniform loading of 0.74 KN/m @ top

Width of the loading to be considered as 120 mm

Horizontal load = 0.74 X 0.12 = 0.0889 KN
Maximum Moment developed by the above forces from the bottom surface
i.e. at a distance of 1.10m.
Mx1 = (0.0889) X 1.10
Mx1 = 0.0977 KNm
Case 2:

Loading of 1.0 KN/m2 on the surface / infill

Area of the loading to be considered as 0.120m X 1.10 = 0.132 m2

Horizontal load = 1.0 X 0.132 = 0.132 KN
Distance from the centre of loading to the bottom surface = 1.10/2 =
0.55m

Maximum Moment developed by the above forces from the bottom surface
i.e. at a distance of 0.55m.
Mx1 = (0.132) X 0.55
Mx1 = 0.0726KNm

Wind loads calculations as per BS 6399 Part 2, 1997:

Wind loads (WL) calculated as per BS 6399 Part 2 1997:
Basic hourly mean wind speed assumed as 25 m/s.
Basic wind speed Vb = 45.0 m/sec
Design wind speed Vs = Vb x Sa X Sd X Ss X Sp
Where,
Sa Altitude factor = 1.0
Sd Directional factor = 1.0
Ss Seasonal factor = 1.0
Sp Probability factor = 1.0
Design wind speed Vs = Vb x Sa X Sd X Ss X Sp
Design wind speed Vs = 25 X 1 X 1 X 1 X 1
Design wind speed Vs = 25 m/s
Wind pressure q = k Ve2
K Constant = 0.613
Effective Wind Speed Ve = Vs X Sb
Sb Terrain and Building factor from Table 4 as Site in town
exceeding > 2 KM upwind from the site and 10 KM closest distance
from sea at height of 10m,
By interpolation, Sb = 1.69
Ve = 25 X 1.69 = 42.25 m/s
Ve = 42.25 m/s
Wind pressure q = 0.613 x (42.25)2
Wind pressure q = 1094 N/m2 or 1.094 KN/m2
Cp = 1.2,

Net wind Pressure = Cp X q

Net windward (front face) wind pressure q = 1.20 X 1.094 =1.313
KN/m2
IV.

Design Method and Calculations

Basic data and Calculations
The analysis is carried out manually to verify the sections used are
safe.
The width of the glass railing structure is considered as 120mm,
Hence, the wind load acting is calculated as mentioned below
WL = 0.120 X 1.313 = 0.158 KN/m.
Factored Load = 1.4 X 0.158 = 0.2212 KN/m
The uniform loads are used to check the moment and deflections.
Check for Moment:
Maximum Bending Moment due to the above loading criteria for a
span of 1.20 m
B.M (max) = w l2 /2
B.M (max) = 0.2212 X (1.20)2 /2
B.M (max) = 0.159 KNm
The Moment of resistance of the section must be larger than above
value.
Calculation of Moment of Resistance (MR)
MR = Z x Po
Z = Sectional Modulus
Z=I

xx

The glass section used is 120 X 10 mm,

Moment of Inertia & Sectional Modulus are calculated as below:
The moment of inertia Ixx = bd3/12 = 120 X 103 / 12,

xx

= 10000 mm4

Z = bd2/6 = 120 X 102 / 6,

Z = = 2000 mm3
MR = 2000 X 166
MR = 0.332 KNm which is greater than the 0.159 KNm
The Moment of Resistance is greater than the Maximum Bending
moment. Hence the section used to resist the ultimate loads
supported is safe.
Check for Deflection:
= WL4 / (8 EI)
< L / 180
E = 72000 MPa
I xx = 100000 mm4 as shown above,
Loading shall be considered as 80% of the Ultimate load in
calculating the deflection,
W = 0.80 X 0.158 = 0.126 KN/m
= (0.126 X 1.20 X 1000) X (1200)3 /(8 X 72000 X 10000)
Note: for long term deflection un-factored load is considered.
= 4.65 mm
L/180 = 1200 / 180
L/180 = 6.67mm
< 6.67mm
Hence the deflection is nearly equal to the permissible values.

Conclusion:
All sections used are structurally sufficient and meet its intended
purpose.