Waltham, MA
Three-dimensionally Printed Glass Testing
Scope/Solutions
In 2017, SGH collaborated with the MIT Media Lab on an exhibit for Milan Design Week. The exhibit, Glass II, showcased intricately curved columns created with three-dimensionally (3D) printed silicate glass. We helped the team by designing post-tensioning support for the columns and performing physical testing in our Applied Science & Research Center. Looking to advance their research with a new geometry, MIT retained SGH to perform additional testing on 3D-printed glass samples in 2024.
SGH tested nineteen samples to determine the compressive strength of the assembly. Highlights of our work include:
- Conducting tests on a single glass unit with flat-plate boundaries and on a stacked assembly
- Testing with wooden and/or aluminum mounts to simulate use-case loading conditions
- Using a hydraulic testing machine with a 600 kip capacity
- Targeting a load rate of 1 kip/sec and manually controlling the rate of compression to compensate for deformations as the glass pressed into the mounts
- Monitoring the load and displacement throughout the testing using data acquisition software
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Project Summary
2024
Completion Date
Solutions
Evaluation
Services
Applied Science & Research
Markets
Education
Client(s)
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Specialized Capabilities
Materials Science
Key team members
Additional Projects
Northeast
Boston University, Kilachand Center for Integrated Life Sciences and Engineering
With a new building on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston University gives a more prominent location to its life sciences and engineering disciplines. SGH consulted on the facade design.
Northeast
Columbia University, Butler Library
Butler Library, constructed in 1934 as South Hall, was designed by James Gamble Rogers and renamed Butler Library in 1946. The university sought to renovate the library and SGH worked as the roofing design consultant for the renovation.