SLQ Building Materials Work 001

A glass curtain wall consisting of glass panels, point support devices, and supporting structures is called a point-supported glass curtain wall. Depending on the supporting structure, point-supported glass curtain walls can be classified into various types: box-section steel frame, truss-type steel frame, column-type steel truss, fish-belly-shaped steel frame, open-belly arch steel frame, single-tie-rod arch steel frame, double-tie-rod shuttle-shaped steel frame, tie-rod (cable) form 1, and tie-rod (cable) form 2.

The point-supported glass curtain wall, composed of glass panels, point support devices, and supporting structures, can be categorized into three types based on the supporting structure:


1. **Metal Support Structure Point-Supported Glass Curtain Wall:** This is the earliest and most commonly used type of point-supported glass curtain wall structure. It utilizes metal materials as the structural support system, securing the glass panels with metal fasteners and connectors. This design maximizes the flexibility of metal structures to meet architectural design needs. Through the glass, one can see the entire structural system supporting the glass, combining the strength and transparency of metal and glass to achieve a perfect balance of "strength" and "beauty", "emptiness" and "solidity".


2. **All-Glass Point-Supported Curtain Wall:** In this type, the supporting structure consists of glass panels termed as glass ribs. Metal fasteners and connectors join the glass panels and ribs to form the curtain wall. The all-glass curtain wall provides an expansive view, with a simple structure that creates a refreshing aesthetic and minimizes the distinction between interior and exterior spaces.


3. **Rod (Cable) Supported Glass Curtain Wall:** This type employs stainless steel rods or cables as the supporting structure, connecting the glass panels via metal fasteners and connectors. This design showcases precision mechanical engineering, where each component is delicately crafted to enhance structural beauty.


The point-supported glass curtain wall represents an emerging technology that emphasizes the integration and flow between interior and exterior spaces of buildings. It departs from traditional uses of glass for windows, curtain walls, and skylights by emphasizing transparency. Through these curtain walls, one can clearly see the entire structural system supporting the glass, transforming the simple support structure into a visible, decorative, and expressive element. Despite its relatively recent emergence, point-supported glass curtain walls have gained widespread application and continue to evolve rapidly.


The point-supported glass curtain wall, composed of glass panels, point support devices, and supporting structures, can be categorized into three types based on the supporting structure:


1. **Metal Support Structure Point-Supported Glass Curtain Wall:** This is the earliest and most commonly used type of point-supported glass curtain wall structure. It utilizes metal materials as the structural support system, securing the glass panels with metal fasteners and connectors. This design maximizes the flexibility of metal structures to meet architectural design needs. Through the glass, one can see the entire structural system supporting the glass, combining the strength and transparency of metal and glass to achieve a perfect balance of "strength" and "beauty", "emptiness" and "solidity".


2. **All-Glass Point-Supported Curtain Wall:** In this type, the supporting structure consists of glass panels termed as glass ribs. Metal fasteners and connectors join the glass panels and ribs to form the curtain wall. The all-glass curtain wall provides an expansive view, with a simple structure that creates a refreshing aesthetic and minimizes the distinction between interior and exterior spaces.


3. **Rod (Cable) Supported Glass Curtain Wall:** This type employs stainless steel rods or cables as the supporting structure, connecting the glass panels via metal fasteners and connectors. This design showcases precision mechanical engineering, where each component is delicately crafted to enhance structural beauty.


The point-supported glass curtain wall represents an emerging technology that emphasizes the integration and flow between interior and exterior spaces of buildings. It departs from traditional uses of glass for windows, curtain walls, and skylights by emphasizing transparency. Through these curtain walls, one can clearly see the entire structural system supporting the glass, transforming the simple support structure into a visible, decorative, and expressive element. Despite its relatively recent emergence, point-supported glass curtain walls have gained widespread application and continue to evolve rapidly.