1. Classification of point-supported glass curtain walls

(1) Metal support structure point-supported glass curtain wall

(2) Point-supported full-glass curtain wall: The supporting structure is a glass plate, called a glass rib. Metal fasteners and connectors are used to connect the glass panel and the glass rib to form a glass curtain wall. The full-glass curtain wall composed of glass panels and glass ribs has a wide field of view and a simple structure, which makes the eyes feel fresh and eliminates the feeling of indoor and outdoor of the building.

(3) Rod (cable) glass curtain wall: The supporting structure is a stainless steel rod or cable, and the glass is connected to the rod or cable by metal fasteners and metal connectors. In the structure of this type of glass curtain wall, the precision of mechanical processing is fully reflected, and the components are very delicate and exquisite, which itself constitutes a kind of structural beauty.

Point-supported glass curtain wall is an emerging technology. It reflects the flow and integration of the inside and outside of the building. It changes the traditional practice of using glass to express windows, curtain walls, and ceilings, and emphasizes the transparency of glass. Through the glass, people can clearly see the entire structural system supporting the glass curtain wall, transforming the simple supporting structural system into visibility, appreciation and performance. Due to the unique expression method of the point-supported glass curtain wall, although it was born not long ago, it is widely used and is developing with each passing day. Figure 1-26 is a new type of structural system - plane cable structure, which has the following characteristics: simple structure, no space obstruction, good transparency and large deformation.

2. Characteristics of point-supported glass curtain wall

(1) Good transparency: The glass panel is connected to the supporting structure only through a few points, with almost no obstruction. The view through the glass is better and the field of vision is larger, making good use of the transparent characteristics of the glass.

(2) Good flexibility: In the design of metal fasteners and metal connectors, in order to reduce and eliminate stress concentration at the edge of the glass plate hole, the glass plate and the connector are in a hinged state, so that each connection point on the glass plate can rotate freely, and a small amount of translation is allowed to compensate for the errors in the installation and construction. Therefore, the glass of the point-supported glass curtain wall generally does not produce installation stress, and can adapt to the deformation of the supporting structure after being loaded, so that the glass does not produce excessive stress concentration. At the same time, the use of point-supported glass curtain wall technology can meet the needs of architectural modeling to a great extent.

(3) Good safety: Since the point-supported glass curtain wall uses tempered glass, which is safety glass, and uses metal fasteners and metal connectors to connect with the supporting structure, the weather-resistant sealant only plays a sealing role and does not bear load. Even if the glass is accidentally damaged, the tempered glass breaks into pieces, forming the so-called "glass rain", there will be no serious injury accidents caused by the whole piece of glass falling.

(4) Good craftsmanship: There are many forms of supporting structures for point-supported glass curtain walls. The supporting components are finely processed and have a smooth surface, which has a good sense of craftsmanship and artistic sense. Therefore, many architects like to choose them.

(5) Good environmental protection and energy saving: One of the characteristics of point-supported glass curtain walls is good transparency. Therefore, when using glass, white glass, ultra-clear glass and low-radiation glass without light pollution are often selected, especially the use of hollow glass, which has a more obvious energy-saving effect.