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 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
1 of 3
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
University of Rhode Island, Center for Biotechnology and Life Science
The Center for Biotechnology and Life Sciences is the first phase of a coordinated effort by the University of Rhode Island to rejuvenate its science campus. SGH designed the structure for the 142,000 sq ft, five-story building housing academics, research, and Biosafety Level 3 laboratories.
Northeast
University of Rochester, Ronald Rettner Hall for Media Arts and Innovation
SGH designed the structure for the building, featuring a large, three-story atrium connecting to adjoining spaces.