Basic Concepts

The introduction of more and more complex standards makes it nearly impossible for fabricators
to determine profiles and glass panes during the estimation which shall later fulfil the conditions
of a structural analysis.

It is possible that a low-priced profile or glass is structurally insufficient whereas a structural safe
section is no longer profitable. Where shall fabricators get this important information from?

On the one hand you should better ask a structural engineer prior to submittal of quotation to
make a reliable statement about the designated sections, on the other hand you usually prefer
saving these costs as long as the order isn’t placed with you.

The LogiKal® statics module helps you to close this gap by performing the preliminary structural
design of beams in glass panes in doors, windows and curtain walls. Herein beams can consider
different materials (aluminium, steel, wood) and glass panes are able to consider different glass
types (Float Glass, Toughened Safety Glass, Semi-Tempered Glass, Laminated Safety Glass,
etc.).

Beam Statics for Doors, Windows and Curtain Walls

Like other program modules the statics module applies common situations in practice. For the
structural evaluation of special constructions it is still essential to consult an expert.

In the following it is described which preconditions form the basis of the structural analysis in
LogiKal®. These remarks are partly rather trivial but they may also mark an important basis for
decision whether the procedure of LogiKal® is allowed to be applied reasonably in a particular
case or not.

Background of Calculation Method

The program is capable of calculating single and multi-span-beams according to first order
theory. Thereby the degree of statical indeterminacy plays no role.

Solely vertical elements under mainly horizontal loads (wind) are considered. Thus it is
impossible to calculate roof elements by this module.

Mullions and transoms are calculated as single-span-beams in door and window elements
whereas in curtain wall mullions the number of spans and their span-width are unrestricted.
Picture 1

The program recognises “Pin Supports” (normal force N¹0, shear force Q¹0, bending moment
M=0) and “Roller Supports” (normal force N=0, shear force Q¹0, bending moment M=0). Fixed
supports (normal force N¹0, shear force Q¹0, bending moment M¹0) are not applied. Picture 1
shows a more detailed support definition. The bottom support is always automatically a pin
support, the top support is a roller support. All additional intermediate supports are freely
definable.

It is postulated that profile or mullion splices produce a rigid connection, i.e. a pin connection or
a rotation spring stiffness is neglected. Therefore you must check carefully whether the applied
splice type fulfils these requirements or not. If not it is still safe to move the splice to the position
where the moment diagram shows zero.

Picture 2a
The decisive distributed load according to the requirements of the design load standard results
from on the load cases wind pressure and wind suction. In order to convert load per unit area into
load per unit length the program applies load distribution areas.

All multi-span-beams strictly apply rectangular load distribution areas. Picture 2a shows a
curtain wall with a distributed load acting evenly over height and width. In this particular case
the load per unit length A on beam 1 results from multiplying the distributed load by half of the
distance to the next beam: Within span 1.1 the factor amounts to B1/2, within span 1.2 to B1/2
and within span 1.3 to (B1+B2)/2.

For beam 2 and load per unit length B it is necessary to consider the load distribution areas left
and right of the beam: Span 2.1 and 2.2 own the same factor which is (B1+B2)/2.

Beam 3 represents a special case. The support between span 3.2 and 3.3 isn’t set at the same
height as the transom connection is. In order to avoid different constant distributed loads within
span 3.2 the program assumes that the largest load distribution area is applied for the whole span.
Thus it results in the following factors: span 3.1 (B2+B3)/2, span 3.2 and span 3.3
(B1+B2+B3+B4)/2 each.

When calculating a beam’s load it is assumed that all loads per unit length are evenly distributed
over the span, i.e. a load saltus is only possible at a support’s position and not between two
supports. Thus it appears that the applied load is larger than theoretically required. In our
example this is represented by area D on beam 3 which is included in area C even though the
area is already considered in area B on beam 2. However, this simplification is safe from a
structural engineer’s point of view.

Picture 2b

For all single-span-beams the load distribution area results from trapezoids or triangles. Picture
2b shows a window element with a distributed load acting evenly over height and width. Since
B1 is smaller than L, the maximum ordinate of the trapezoidal load per unit length on beam 1
(area A) results from multiplying the distributed load by B1/2. For beam 2 and load per unit
length it is necessary to consider different load distribution areas (area B: trapezoid, area C:
triangle) because the field widths B1 and B2 differ. The trapezoidal load per unit length (area B)
is calculated analogous to beam 1 (area A) here. Since B2 is larger than L, the maximum ordinate
of the triangular load per unit length on beam 2 (area C) results from multiplying the distributed
load by L/2. The triangular load per unit length on beam 3 (area D) is calculated analogous to
beam 2 (area C) here.

LogiKal® analyses the serviceability limit state, i.e. the system’s deflections. This one is usually
decisive for the design in practice because deflection limits are usually exceeded prior to stress
limits. The load bearing capacity is not considered, i.e. neither an ultimate strength analysis nor a
stability analysis like buckling or lateral torsional buckling are performed. Thus it is sufficient to
multiply the applied loads by a partial safety factor of 1.0.

Direct Wind Load Input

It is also possible to enter wind load profiles directly independent from national wind load
standards. In order to do so the program enquires the wind pressure or wind suction values and
the corresponding heights above ground.

Results

Deflection Line

This is the beam’s deformation diagram due to the applied load. It is decisive for the design.
Deflection limits are to be entered by the user. Those values usually depend on the designated
glazing and thus they have to be requested at the glass manufacturer. Common limit values are
8mm or L/300.
Since the deflection is reciprocally proportional to the second moment of area (moment of
inertia) LogiKal® is able to calculate the required Ix value and to decide whether the profile’s
current Ix value is structurally sufficient or not.

The statics module splits the beam into individual spans measuring Lm which are located
between two supports each. A constant distributed wind load wm acts on every span. A beam
span might be split into individual glass spans Lm,n by transoms i.

First the program checks whether the maximum existing deflection max vm due to the action wm
on span m (between two supports) does not exceed the limit values. Second LogiKal® surveys if
the maximum existing deflection of the glass spans m,n (between two transoms i and i+1) keeps
the limit values. For this the nodes i are linked to a chord diagram (red lines). The chord diagram
serves as reference for the relative deflections of glass spans. Afterwards the maximum existing
relative deflection within the glass span max vm,n is calculated by subtracting the deflection of
the chord diagram (red) from the actual deflection of the deflection line (green).

Later it is displayed in the printouts which of the two parameters – beam span or glass span
deflection – is decisive for the design.

Moment Diagram

Displays the run of the bending moment curve within a beam. Without having an influence on
the calculated results non-rigid profile splices might be placed where the moment curve crosses
the x-axis. It is also possible to calculate the existing stress within a beam by the moment
diagram. However, stress is not applied to design the profile. For this the deflection curve is
decisive exclusively.

Shear Diagram

Displays the run of the shear force curve within a beam. The x-intercepts of the shear diagram
represent the places where the moment diagram shows a minimum or maximum.

Support Reactions

Adding the shear forces acting right and left to the support results in the support force. It might
be used to design e.g. anchors. But you should keep in mind that the calculated support reactions
might have to be multiplied by a partial safety factor gF in design for strength.

Glass Statics
Glasses are calculated as rectangular linear supported plates in compliance with the Kirchhoff
plate theory. This states that the stresses within the midsurface equal to zero and that transverse
shear deformation is neglected.
As soon as glass deflections become larger than the glass pane thickness the so called membrane
effect is activated significantly. From a structural point of view it is safe that the calculation
method neglects this positive effect of geometrical nonlinearity.