METHOD, COMPUTER SYSTEM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM FOR DETERMINING A STRUCTURAL GLASS ELEMENT, AS WELL METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH STRUCTURAL GLASS ELEMENT

DESCRIPTION

Technical field

The present invention generally relates to the technical field of glass processing, and particularly it relates to a method implemented by means of a computer, a computer program and a computer system for determining a structural glass element, in particular by a glassmaker.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing such structural glass element by a glassmaker.

Definition

In the present document, the expression "structural glass element" or derivatives is used to indicate an element comprising or consisting of at least one glass sheet designed to be integrated in an article designed to bear a load. The structural glass element is designed to resist the action of external forces which at least partially determine this load, such as for example wind, snow and/or anthropic thrusts, and the action of internal forces. The article is generally anchored to a support structure such as a beam, wall, concrete slab or the like.

In the present document, the expression "glassmaker" or derivatives is used to indicate a company operating in the glass industry carrying out the processes required to obtain the structural glass element or an article including the latter.

In the present document, the expression "structural glass element of the monolithic type" or derivatives is used to indicate an element made of structural glass consisting of a single glass sheet.

In the present document, the expression "structural glass element of the laminated type" or derivatives is used to indicate a structural glass element consisting of at least two glass sheets superimposed by interposing at least one layer of different material, for example such layer may be polymeric material, an intumescent gel or others of the per se known type.

In the present document, the expression "structural glass element of the double-glazing type" or derivatives is used to indicate a structural glass element consisting of at least two parallel glass sheets by interposing at least one metal or polymeric or polymeric composite spacer, per se known.

The expression "determining" a structural glass element is used to indicate an operation comprising a so-called "design" step, i.e. a step for selecting a particular structural glass element which meets certain requirements, and/or a so-called "verification" step, that is a step aimed at checking whether a given structural glass element meets certain requirements.

State of the Art

It is known that in the technical field of construction there is the need to manufacture articles including structural glass elements such as steps, display windows, partition walls, parapets, roofs, windows, dormers or the like.

These articles essentially consist of one or more structural glass elements and of systems for anchoring the latter to a support structure.

For example, a display window consists of a large-sized structural glass element, generally a laminated glass consisting of several glass sheets superimposed by interposing a polymeric laminar element, and by means for anchoring it to the floor and to the wall. Such anchoring is obtained by means of suitable constraint systems consisting of profiles and/or tubular elements and/or plates.

It is therefore clear that the article, and therefore the structural glass element, must have different characteristics such as type, size and thickness so as to meet the relevant regulatory or law requirements, technical documents, standard procedures or practices which can also vary from country to country.

The structural glass element (and often the entire article) is generally manufactured by a glassmaker, who consults an engineer specialised in structural calculations or a qualified specialised technician for the design and dimensioning of the aforementioned parts.

Therefore, based on the knowledge and experience thereof, generally the engineer identifies a structural glass element that meets the maximum stress requirements laid down by the Italian regulations, for example a laminated glass sheet made consisting of two 6 mm glass sheets, and provides such characteristics to glassware accompanied by a technical report indicating the maximum stresses that this structural glass element can withstand.

A first drawback lies in the fact that generally the end user, i.e. the glassmaker, does not have the technical engineering expertise and therefore must manufacture the glass with the exact specifications provided thereto.

The drawback of this process lies in the fact that the specialised engineer does not know the needs of the glassmaker, for example warehouse availability, delivery times or logistics organisation. Furthermore, the glassmaker has the burden of managing outsourcing with the specialised engineer.

Inevitably, this results in increased costs and times for the glassmaker.

The aforementioned drawback is more felt in the case where the end user decides to vary the type of the article as the works proceed or requires different rigidity, thermal insulation or acoustic insulation specifications.

As a matter of fact, in this case there arises the need for the specialised engineer to carry out a new calculation, with an evident further increase in times and costs.

A further disadvantage lies in the fact that for the glassmaker, determination by the specialised engineer comes at a cost. This means that when preparing the quotation, the glassmaker cannot plausibly provide a correct estimate, that is based on the actual cost to be incurred, but an overestimated quotation, with the risk of losing competitiveness on the market.

Furthermore, in order to assess whether a structural glass element or a glass sheet, possibly already installed, meets certain requirements, for example safety, rigidity or insulation requirements, the specialised engineer must carry out the calculations over again to verify.

Summary of the invention

An object of the present invention is to at least partly overcome the drawbacks illustrated above, by providing a computer method, system and/or program for designing a structural glass element that is highly functional and cost-effective.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program for determining a structural glass element by a non-skilled user.

An object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program capable of allowing to determine at least one structural glass element without the need to envisage a possible structural glass element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program for determining a structural glass element which minimises the costs for the manufacturing thereof by a glassmaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program for determining a structural glass element which minimises the times required for the manufacturing thereof by a glassmaker.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program for determining a structural glass element which simplifies the manufacturing thereof by a glassmaker to the maximum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program for determining a structural glass element capable of allowing the glassmaker to accurately estimate the structural glass element to be manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program for determining a structural glass element capable of allowing a glassmaker to manufacture the same without the need to consult a specialised engineer for the determination.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computer method, system and/or program for determining a structural glass element capable of meeting relevant regulatory and law requirements, technical documents, standard procedures and/or practices.

These and other objects which will be more apparent hereinafter, are attained by a computer- implemented method for determining a structural glass element which may be of different types, for example monolithic, laminated or double-glazing.

Essentially, such method can allow the determination of a structural glass element that can be used for manufacturing an article.

According to a first embodiment, once the design requirements have been determined, the structural glass element can be designed, that is a plurality of structural glass elements which meet the design requirements can be calculated. Possibly, one or more elements of such plurality may be selected to determine at least one structural glass element which meet certain design requirements.

According to a first embodiment, the method may comprise the steps of:

- collecting first design data relating to the structural glass element to be designed, for example regarding the type and position of the constraints and/or the shape and size and/or operating conditions, possibly, also regarding the type of structural glass element and the size and/or the variable anthropogenic loads and overloads and/or the action of snow and/or wind and/or the laminating material in the case of laminated glass;

- collecting a second data regarding the selection of the design criterion relating to safety, possibly the law standard to be met;

- calculating a plurality of possible structural glass elements that can be manufactured based on said first design data and on said second datum.

Possibly, there is provided for a step for selecting - from the plurality of possible structural glass elements - a structural glass element which can be used for the manufacturing of the article based on at least one selection criterion advantageous for a glassmaker, which may be predetermined or suitable to be entered by the user.

The aforementioned advantageous selection criterion may relate to one or more of the following specifications: transmittance; solar factor; light transmission; acoustic damping; size of the spacer groove; filling gas; internal and external pressure; place of production; place of installation; internal and external temperatures; presence of non-skid/silkscreen; weight; production cost; warehouse availability; use of scraps available in the warehouse; manufacturing speed; supply speed; production and/or processing technologies.

In particular, the selection step may allow to select - from the plurality of structural glass elements - those which meet or optimise one or more of such criteria.

For example, a selection possible based on the processing speed criterion may be all the possible structural glass elements having glass sheets with equal thickness, or having glass sheets with different thickness but with minimum variance with respect to those of said plurality.

Another example of a possible selection based on the manufacturing cost criterion may be all the structural glass elements having the lowest manufacturing cost possible. Another example of a possible selection based on the use of scraps available in the warehouse criterion may be all the structural glass elements that can be manufactured with the glass sheets available in the glassmaking factory, said data collection unit including fourth data regarding the availability of glass sheets of glassmaker.

On the other hand, according to a different embodiment, once the design requirements have been determined, there can be envisaged a possible structural glass element and verify whether such envisaged structural glass element meets certain design requirements.

In particular, the method provides for the above-described steps for collecting the first and second data and the step for calculating the possible structural glass elements that can be manufactured based on said first design data and said second data. Subsequently the method provides for the step of

- entering data relating to an envisaged predetermined glass element to be verified; and

- verifying the presence of said glass element to be verified from the plurality of possible glass elements.

Thanks to the above, a glassmaker will have the possibility to design the structural glass element that it will manufacture directly in a simple and practical manner, without the need to consult a specialized engineer or qualified professional.

The structural glass element is determined not only based on the safety or performance design criteria, such as rigidity, acoustic and/or thermal insulation required by the customer and possibly imposed by the law, but also based on the needs of glassmaker, for example in terms of delivery times, manufacturing cost, logistics or the like.

This minimises the times and cost for manufacturing the structural glass element by the glassmaker, with evident benefit also for the final customer.

Furthermore, thanks to the above, a non-skilled user can design a structural glass element simply by inserting a few easily available parameters, for example from a catalogue.

Furthermore, in this manner, the glassmaker can at any time provide an extremely accurate quotation to the customer, based on the actual needs thereof and not overestimated. Even in case of changes on the part of the customer, the glassmaker can easily and quickly design and/or verify the structural glass element over again.

Suitably, the method may include a step for displaying data regarding the possible structural glass elements of the plurality.

In this manner, unlike an engineering report, the customer of the glassmaker may easily understand which glass structural elements can be used for the article.

For example, the non-skilled user can simply enter the data relating to the characteristics of the article (partition wall constrained at the upper part and at the lower part, the size of the wall, possible performance such as acoustic insulation), select the country of installation (Italy, and thus the reference standard to be used) and the program may display one or more glass elements suitable for the construction of the wall.

Possibly, the non-skilled user who finds inventories in the warehouse of a plurality of sheets, will be able to verify whether they can be suitable for use for a different project by simply entering the aforementioned data and the measurements of the glass in the warehouse.

In a further aspect of the invention, a computer system for implementing the aforementioned determination method may be provided for.

The computer system comprises:

- a data collection unit configured to collect at least the aforementioned first and second data; and

- a microprocessor unit operatively connected or connectable to said data collection unit.

The microprocessor unit is configured to carry out at least the aforementioned calculation and selection or calculation and verification steps.

For example, the data collection unit might include a data input interface, a keypad, and a memory into which to data is entered. On the other hand, the microprocessor unit may include a computer with corresponding CPU.

Furthermore, the computer system may advantageously comprise a data display unit operatively connected to the microprocessor unit to display the data concerning the possible structural glass elements of the plurality, for example the screen of a computer, a mobile phone or tablet or printer to print data on paper.

Suitably, the data display unit alone can be installed at the glassmaking factory. In this case, the determination may be carried out from a remote position.

For example, the glassmaker may enter the first and second data into the input interface of a website dedicated to determining the structural glass element, and possibly data relating to the selection criteria and/or an envisaged structural glass element, while the final data can be sent to the glassmaker by e-mail and displayed on a monitor at the glassmaking factory, or printed at the glassmaking factory.

For example, such final data may indicate the characteristics of the structural glass element that meets the design requirements and the selection criterion, or they may indicate whether the structural glass element meets such design requirements.

On the other hand, both the data display unit and the microprocessor unit can be installed at the glassmaking factory. In such case, the glassmaker may have installed on one of the company computers a computer program which carries out the aforementioned method, and that is the steps for collecting data by means of an input interface, that of determining the plurality of possible structural glass elements, that of verifying and displaying the data relating to the designed structural glass elements.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment, the microprocessor unit may also be configured to control at least one glass processing machine susceptible to manufacture the glass sheet.

In this manner, the process for manufacturing the glass sheets will be fully automated.

In a further aspect of the invention, there may be provided for a computer program that can be run in a processor, for example the microprocessor unit of the above-described computer system, can be provided to implement the aforementioned method of determination.

In a further aspect of the invention, there may be provided for a method for the manufacturing - by a glassmaker - of the structural glass element.

Such method comprises the steps of:

- determining the structural glass element by means of the aforementioned computer system; and

- manufacturing or providing of the structural glass element thus designed by the glassmaker.

Suitably, both the steps of determining and manufacturing the structural glass element can be carried out directly by the glassmaker, as outlined above.

The dependent claims describe advantageous embodiments of the invention.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are block diagrams of an embodiment of the method for determining a structural glass element;

FIG. 4 is a schematic example of the system for determining - by a glassmaker - a structural glass element;

FIGS. 5 and 6 show some examples of articles 100.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments

With reference to the attached figures, herein described is a glass article 100 which may be a step, a roof, a display window, a partition wall, a parapet, a window, a dormer or the like.

Essentially, the article 100 may therefore comprise one or more structural glass elements 1 and means 10 for coupling such structural glass elements 1 with a support structure S. For example, the support structure S may be any support structure, such as for example a beam, a wall, an attic, or the like.

On the other hand, the coupling systems 10 may be of a per se known type from those used for anchoring glass sheets. Optionally, such systems may comprise support elements such as brackets, bosses or profiles.

Possibly, a structural glass element 1 may be coupled to another structural glass element 1 and/or to the support structure S in a per se known manner.

In any case, the article 100 can comply with certain specifications, such as for example safety and/or regulatory. Furthermore, each structural glass element 1 may meet certain design requirements.

In particular, the structural glass element 1 can meet at least the safety design criterion, that is satisfy a safety requirement.

This safety requirement may ensure that the structural glass element 1 is suitable for the intended use and it may be at least partly determined by a regulation, law or guideline.

It is clear that depending on the design criteria, the intended uses, the regulations with which it must comply, as well as the characteristics of the glass sheets, and other parameters better indicated hereinafter, the structural glass element 1 may have different characteristics.

Essentially, the user, for example glassmaker, will be able to determine the characteristics of the structural glass element 1 meeting such criteria and may provide, acquire or manufacture a structural glass element according to such characteristics.

As better explained hereinafter, such determination may comprise a design step and/or a verification step.

For example, there may be provided for a step for designing the structural glass element 1 meeting certain criteria, and a step for manufacturing or acquiring such structural glass element which may then be used to manufacture the article 100.

On the other hand, according to a different example, there may be provided for a step for verifying whether a given structural glass element 1 meets certain criteria and a step for providing such structural glass element.

Essentially, there may be provided for a step 110 for collecting first design data regarding the operating conditions of the structural element and second data 120 regarding the design conditions comprising at least one safety requirement and a step for calculating a plurality 170 of possible structural glass elements 1 that can be manufactured based on the design data 110 and on the design data 120.

In this way, a plurality of structural glass elements 1 which meet the design requirements relating both to the operating conditions and to safety may therefore be determined.

Possibly, there may be provided for a step for selecting - from the plurality of possible structural glass elements 170 - a second plurality 175 of possible structural glass elements 1 based on at least one selection criterion 140. The latter may relate to performance criteria of the glass element to be manufactured and/or to criteria advantageous for the user or glassmaker.

Advantageously, said plurality 170 and/or 175 of elements can be determined without the need to know or assume data relating to the glass element. In particular, such plurality can be determined without the need to know or assume the thicknesses of the glass sheets.

On the other hand, there may be provided for a step for envisaging a structural glass element 1 and subsequent verification of the presence or absence of the structural glass element 1 envisaged from the plurality 170 of possible structural glass elements 1 so as to determine the structural glass element 1 by verifying whether the latter meets the data requirements 110, 120.

Possibly, such verification can be carried out with respect to the plurality 175. In this case, it can be verified whether the structural glass element 1 meets the design requirements 110, 120 and the selection criterion 140.

According to a particular preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the invention, the calculation step may comprise a step for calculating a first plurality 170 of possible structural glass elements 1 that can be manufactured based on the design data 110 and the data 120.

For example, a plurality of laminated structural glass elements, each consisting of one or more glass sheets which may have the equal or different thicknesses with respect to each other, may be calculated.

Subsequently, a step for selecting - from the possible structural glass elements of the plurality 170 - possible one or more structural glass elements 175 based on the selection criterion 140 advantageous for the glassmaker, may be carried out.

It is clear that the step for calculating the plurality 170 based on the data 110, 120, and possibly the plurality 175 based on the data 140 too, may be carried out by means of calculations of the per se known type.

For example, the step for calculating the plurality 170 of possible structural glass elements that can be manufactured based on the design data 110 and the second datum 120 may provide for:

- calculating an equivalent glass sheet having a theoretical thickness that meets the data 110 and 120, preferably such an equivalent glass sheet may be a monolithic glass sheet;

- providing a correlation between the theoretical thickness of the equivalent sheet and the structural glass elements manufactured starting from the glass sheets present in a database 260 so as to determine the plurality 170. In other words, once the design data 110, 120 have been collected, it is then possible to calculate an equivalent monolithic glass sheet having a theoretical thickness. By means of the aforementioned correlations it is therefore possible to determine one or more structural glass elements 1 manufactured starting from the glass sheets present in the database 260.

These structural glass elements 1 can therefore meet the same design criteria met by the equivalent monolithic glass sheet, so as to form the plurality 170.

Preferably, the theoretical thickness of a structural glass element may be equal to the thickness of a monolithic glass sheet capable of equally meeting the design criteria 120 as the structural glass element.

It is clear that the theoretical thickness of the equivalent sheet may therefore be different from the sum of the thicknesses of the glass sheets forming the structural glass element 1. In particular, the theoretical thickness of each structural glass element may be different from the sum of the thicknesses of the glass sheets forming the glass structural element itself.

Operatively, an equivalent monolithic sheet having a theoretical thickness can be calculated starting from determined design data 110 and 120, and the theoretical thicknesses of the structural glass elements manufactured starting from the glass sheets present in the database 260 may be calculated.

In particular, providing the correlation between the equivalent sheet and the structural glass elements may comprise the steps of:

- calculating or providing the theoretical thickness of the equivalent sheet;

- calculating or providing the theoretical thickness of the structural glass elements manufactured starting from the glass sheets present in database 260;

- comparison between such theoretical thickness of the structural glass elements and the theoretical thickness of the equivalent sheet;

- selecting all structural glass elements having a theoretical thickness equal to or greater than the theoretical thickness of the equivalent sheet.

The structural glass elements having a theoretical thickness equal to or greater than the theoretical thickness of the equivalent sheet may define the plurality 170.

For example, starting from certain design data 110 and 120 and from the glass sheets present in the database 260, and possibly from the type of laminating material and/or from the conditions of use such as temperatures or loading times, the following structural glass elements having a certain theoretical thickness may be calculated: laminated glass consisting of two 8 mm sheets by interposing a standard pvb polymer: theoretical thickness 11.5 mm; laminated glass consisting of two 8 mm sheets by interposing a rigid pvb polymer: theoretical thickness 16.5 mm; laminated glass consisting of three 6 mm sheets by interposing a standard pvb polymer: theoretical thickness 10.89 mm; laminated glass consisting of two 12 mm sheets with the interposition of a standard pvb polymer: theoretical thickness 16.5 mm; laminated glass consisting of three 10 mm sheets by interposing a standard pvb polymer: theoretical thickness 16.6 mm;

The theoretical thickness of the equivalent monolithic sheet, for example theoretical thickness equal to 16 mm, may be calculated starting from the same design data 110 and 120.

In this case, the plurality of structural glass elements 170 may be formed by the aforementioned structural glass elements having a theoretical thickness equal to or greater than 16 mm laminated glass 12112 and 10110110 with lamination made of standard pvb and laminated glass 818 with lamination made of rigid pvb.

It is clear that such example is reported solely by way of example. As a matter of fact, the theoretical thickness of all the glass structural elements manufactured can be determined starting from the sheets present in the database 260 and/or from the different types of lamination.

Furthermore, although there has been provided an example in which the glass structural glasses consist of laminated glass, the above description may be carried out with any type of structural glass sheets, for example consisting of monolithic glass, double glazing or others.

Subsequently, the step for selecting from the plurality 170 of the plurality 175, which may depend on the predetermined advantageous criterion 140, may be provided for.

The selection may be carried out by selecting the structural glass elements 1 which meet or optimise one or more of the selection criteria 140.

In particular, each of the selection criteria 140 may define at least one first parameter, while each of the plurality of glass elements 170 has a corresponding second parameter.

The plurality of glass elements 175 may comprise the glass elements of the plurality 170 having the second parameter higher or lower than the first parameter, that is they may meet the selection criterion 140.

On the other hand, the plurality of glass elements 175 may comprise a predetermined number of glass elements of the plurality 170 having the values of the second maximum or minimum parameter.

For example, the plurality 175 may be the first 3 glass elements of the plurality 170 having the second maximum or minimum parameter. Such number may be arbitrarily selected by the user. For example, should such criterion be that of the structural glass element that can be manufactured with the glass sheets available in the warehouse, and should the database 260 indicate that the 6 mm ones are the only available sheets, the second plurality 175 of possible structural glass elements would consist of laminated glass with three 6 mm sheets and dual double glazing with three 6 mm sheets.

Obviously, should more advantageous criteria 140 be selected, the second plurality 175 would include all the results such to meet the various advantageous criteria of interest.

Although the calculation step comprising the calculation of the plurality 170 and subsequently the selection of the plurality 175 starting from the first one has been described, it is clear that the calculation and selection step can be carried out substantially simultaneously or in reverse order.

For example, a plurality of glass elements can be firstly calculated based on the advantageous criterion and subsequently selected therefrom based on the design criteria.

Possibly, according to another example, the calculation step may provide for the calculation of different pluralities of structural glass elements each according to one from the design and selection criteria and a subsequent comparison between the different pluralities in order to identify the structural glass elements present in all the pluralities.

Suitably, a step for selecting the structural glass element 1 starting from the plurality 175 of possible structural glass elements 1 that can be manufactured may be provided for. Such selection step may therefore provide for the selection of the structural glass element 1 to be manufactured from the possible ones of the plurality 175.

This selection may be carried out by the user or it may be carried out automatically. In other words, as better specified hereinafter, it may be provided for that all the results of the plurality 175 be displayed and the user may choose which structural glass element 1 to manufacture.

Possibly, a preferred result of the plurality 175 may be highlighted so as to facilitate the choice of the user.

Or, the selection step may be carried out partially automatically. In particular, only some results of the plurality 175, for example two results, which can be displayed to the user, may be selected automatically. The user may then choose from the latter.

Possibly, the selection step may be fully automatic and only one result of the plurality 175 may be displayed so that the user or the glassmaker does not have to select.

The automatic selection may be carried out based on one or more of the advantageous criteria 140 of interest to the user.

Possibly, further data 190 relating to the characteristics of the glass element 1, preferably structural characteristics, may be collected, as better explained hereinafter. Possibly, said data 190 may comprise characteristics of the glass elements, for example monolithic or laminated glass, chemically treated or untreated glass, but preferably said entered data 190 may not comprise the thicknesses of the sheets. In this manner, the user may determine the possible glass elements without the need to know the thickness of the glass sheets or to envisage them.

Preferably, the calculation step may first determine one or more objective functions, for example the equivalent minimum thicknesses to be achieved, based on the data 110 and 120, then the equivalent thicknesses of all the possible combinations of known structural glass elements (that is present in databases or available on the Internet) are calculated based on the data 110 and possibly 190. The glass elements which have an equivalent thickness equal to or greater than the objective ones, that is with respect to the safety requirement related to the data 120 define the plurality of glass elements 170.

A selection step which may be single, that is relating to a single criterion 140 or relating to several criteria, may be provided for subsequently.

According to a particular embodiment, a step 180 for verifying an envisaged structural glass element may be provided for. That is, if such structural glass element 1 meets one or more criteria. In particular - if such structural glass element 1 meets design criteria according to the data 110 and 120 - data 190 relating to the structural glass element 1 envisaged and, possibly, advantageous selection criteria according to the data 140.

To this end, a step for calculating possible structural glass elements 1 according to the design data 110 and/or the data 120 and/or the data 140 may be provided for to determine a plurality of structural elements 1 according to the design and/or selection criteria. Preferably, this calculation step may be the calculation step described above so as to determine the plurality of possible structural elements 170 or the plurality 175.

Suitably, the collection of data 190 relating to the characteristics of the envisaged structural glass element to be verified may also be provided for. In this case, the data 190 may comprise the thicknesses of the envisaged glass sheets.

Advantageously, a structural glass element may be verified knowing exclusively the thicknesses thereof and the criteria 110 and 120.

Preferably, the data 190 may also regard other characteristics of the glass element. For example, such data 190 may comprise the thickness of the sheets and shape, type, number of sheets, laminating material.

A step for verifying the presence of structural glass element from the possible calculated ones, that is from the plurality 170 or 175, may be provided for subsequently. This verification allows the glassmaker to verify whether a particular structural glass element, for example manufactured using sheets present in the warehouse, meets or does not meet the requirements according to data 110 and 120 or data 110, 120 and 140.

Suitably, such verification may be carried out by a non-skilled user since it is sufficient to enter the data of the glass element present and the output data 130 can indicate to the user whether said glass element meets or does not meet the requirements 110, 120.

This verification step may provide for comparison between one or more characteristics of the glass element to be verified and the characteristics of each of the glass elements of the plurality 170 or 175.

These characteristics may be determined by means of the data 190.

Operatively, for example, data 110, data 120, and data 190, which may for example relate to a structural glass element having the following characteristics:

- shape: rectangular;

- type: laminated glass;

- number of glass sheets: two glass sheets;

- thickness: both sheets are 6 mm thick 6 mm (616);

- type of laminating: standard pvb lamination

It is therefore possible to calculate the plurality 170 or 175 of structural glass elements 1 each having respective shape, type, number of glass sheets, thickness and type of lamination.

Thus, this will allow to compare the characteristics of the envisaged structural glass element to be verified with the characteristics of the structural glass elements of the plurality 170 or 175, preferably with all the elements of such plurality 170 or 175.

Should there be a structural glass element of the plurality 170 or 175 having the same characteristics as the structural element to be verified, the latter is deemed verified, that is it meets the criteria according to the data 110, 120 in the case of the plurality 170 and possibly 140 in the case of the plurality 175, or any criterion and requirement used for the calculation of the pluralities 170 and 175.

On the other hand, should there be no structural glass elements of the plurality taken into account, for example the plurality 170, having the same characteristics as the structural glass element to be verified, the latter is deemed not verified, that is it does not meet the criteria according to the data 110, 120.

It is clear that the comparisons can be made between data consistent with respect to each other in a per se known manner. Different characteristics may have different types of data. Steps for normalising the data in order to make them consistent and therefore comparable, may further be provided for.

Optionally, the verification step may be carried out by calculating the equivalent thickness. In other words, the equivalent thickness of the glass element to be verified and of all the glass elements of the plurality 170 may be calculated.

The glass element to be verified may therefore be verified/not verified if the plurality 170 comprises/does not comprise a glass element with the same equivalent thickness.

It is clear that the verification step may be carried out irrespective of how the step for calculating the plurality 170 or the plurality 175 is carried out. Furthermore, such step may be carried out in a similar way using different data 110, 120 and/or 190 and/or 140.

In other words, it is possible to determine a structural glass element 1 that meets certain design 110, 120 and, optionally, selection 140 criteria by designing a glass element according to such criteria or by verifying whether the envisaged structural glass element meets such criteria.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, a step for calculating a minimum structural glass element, i.e. a structural glass element meeting the design criteria 110 and 120 and having one or more of the selection criteria 140 with minimum value, may be provided for.

For example, the minimum structural glass element may have minimum thickness, cost, theoretical thickness or weight.

Possibly, the minimum structural glass element may be determined from the plurality 170 or 175 by selecting the structural glass element having a minimum thickness, cost, theoretical thickness and/or weight.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a step for calculating the deviation of the envisaged glass element to be verified with respect to the minimum structural glass element may be provided for.

In this manner, the non-skilled user will be able to easily identify the deviation and therefore whether the glass element to be verified is overestimated, close to a limit condition, or- if it is not verified - whether it is close or not to the minimum structural glass element.

Advantageously, one or more of the steps described above can be carried out by means of a computer system 200, preferably but not necessarily installed in the same glassmaking factory that manufactures the structural glass element 1.

The computer system 200 may comprise a data collection unit, for example a keypad 210 and a data storage unit 220, a computer 230 and a monitor 240.

Advantageously, one or more of the data 110, 120, 140 and/or 190 may be entered by the user and/or may be stored.

Artificial intelligence systems may be provided for so as to speed up and/or simplify the design and/or verification of the structural glass element.

For example, the entered calculation data and the solutions thereof, that is the determined glass structural elements, may be stored. In this manner, the algorithm on which the Al system is based can learn which are best or preferred solutions.

In other words, a step for storing the optimal or preferred solutions in a database may be provided for.

The verification and/or design step may therefore comprise collecting the design data 110, 120 and determining the structural glass elements starting from the solutions stored in such database.

In any case, the aforementioned verification step and/or design step may be carried out directly in the glassmaking factory by means of a computer program which may be run in the CPU of the computer 230.

It is clear that the storage unit and/or CPU may be placed inside the glassmaking factory, or they may be placed elsewhere. In this case, the computer program can be run remotely, while the results can be displayed on the monitor 240.

For example, the computer program may display a user interface for input of the data 110, 120, 140 and/or 190, which can be entered by means of the keyboard 210, on the monitor 240. It is clear that the computer program may offer the option to select one or more of the data 110, 120, 140 and/or 190.

The computer program may provide for an output that may regard one or more determined structural glass elements.

For example, still on the monitor 240, there may be displayed data 130 regarding one or more possible structural glass elements determined, designed and/or verified, based on the design criteria 110, 120, and possibly based on one or more of the selection criteria 140, or, as described above, depending on the characteristics of the glass element 190.

Such data 130, as better explained hereinafter, can be easy to understand so that even the non-skilled user can understand the characteristics of the glass sheet required to manufacture the article or if the glass sheet verified by the user is acceptable to manufacture the article.

Suitably, databases 250, 260 comprising respective data 150, 155 regarding the criteria 140 which may be particularly advantageous for glassmaker may be provided for.

For example, if the criterion 140 is the lowest manufacturing cost, the computer system 200 may comprise the database 250 of data 150 regarding the cost of the glass sheets. If criterion 140 is the use of glass sheets available in the glassmaker's warehouse, the computer system 200 may comprise the database 260 of data 155 regarding the availability of glass sheets in the warehouse.

It is clear that the computer system 200 may provide for a database 265 which may include the data 160 regarding the characteristics of the sheets available on the market and/or of the sheets that can be manufactured by the specific glassmaker (for example, due to the machines available).

Such data 160 may also regard one or more of the information relating to the criteria 140 described below, for example the environmental impact, manufacturing speed, times of availability on the market, as well as transmittance, light transmission, acoustic damping, minimum/maximum operating temperatures, thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, size of the groove in case of double glazing or possible filling gases, or other similar data, and/or characteristics of the structural glass elements 190

The output of the program, that is the data 130 displayed, may vary if a verification step and/or a calculation and selection step (design) has been carried out.

For example, if the design has been carried out, the data 130 of some or all of the structural glass elements of the plurality 170 or 175 may be displayed on the monitor 240.

Possibly, if the automatic selection step has also been carried out, data 130 regarding one or two structural glass elements of the plurality 175 may be present.

The data 130 may be different from each other depending on the type of the possible structural glass element 1 to be manufactured, that is if it is of the monolithic, laminated and/or double-glazing type.

As a matter of fact, if the structural glass element 1 is of the monolithic type, the data 130 may regard the thickness, the possible type of thermal treatment, the type of grinding, the weight and/or the size of the glass sheets.

If the structural glass element 1 is of the laminated type, the data 130 may regard the type of glass to be used, the thickness, the possible type of thermal treatment, the type of grinding, the weight and/or the size of the glass sheets and the type and thickness of the polymeric interlayer.

If the structural glass element 1 is of the double-glazing type, the data 130 may be different depending on whether the sheets of the double-glazing are of the monolithic or laminated type. In both cases, the data 130 may be the aforementioned ones.

For Example:

- if the structural glass element is of the double-glazing type with monolithic glass sheets: the nature and size of the spacer groove, the thickness, the type of possible thermal treatment, the type of grinding, the weight and/or the size of said at least two monolithic glass sheets;

- if the structural glass element is of the double-glazing type and the double-glazing is fitted with laminated glass sheets: the nature and size of the spacer groove, the type of glass, the thickness, the type of possible thermal treatment, the type of grinding, the weight and/or the size of said at least two laminated glass sheets and the type and thickness of the polymeric interlayer;

- if the structural glass element is of the double-glazing type and the double-glazing is fitted with a laminated glass sheet and a monolithic glass sheet: the nature and size of the spacer groove, the type of glass, the thickness, the type of possible thermal treatment, the type of grinding, the weight and/or the size of said at least two laminated glass sheets and the type and thickness of the polymeric interlayer.

The data 130 may be displayed in order according to a selection criterion 140 or according to a selection parameter so as to simplify the choice of the operator, for example by means of a list, a table or the like which can be printed.

On the other hand, should the verification step have been carried out, the data 130 regarding whether or not the envisaged glass element 1 has met the design criteria 110, 120, possibly the design criteria 110, 120 and the selection criteria 140, may be displayed on the monitor 240.

Furthermore, the data 130 displayed on the monitor 240 may regard some or all of the structural glass elements of the plurality 170 or 175. Suitably, the glass element to be verified may be displayed on the monitor 240 positioned in the list of glass structural elements 170 or 175 according to a predetermined order.

Possibly, the data 130 displayed on the monitor 240 may regard some or all of the possible structural glass elements irrespective of whether they meet the design 110 120 and/or selection 140 criteria. Suitably, the glass element to be verified may be displayed on the monitor 240 positioned in such plurality of possible structural glass elements according to a predetermined order.

Should the calculation of the minimum structural glass element and, possibly, the calculation of the deviation of the glass element to be verified from the latter have also been carried out, the data 130 may also regard such aspects.

For example, with reference to the maximum stress safety design criterion alone, a line with a first indicator arranged along such line indicating the minimum structural glass element, that is the minimum thickness that meets the maximum stress requirement, may be provided for. The order of representation may be the total thickness of the glass sheets that form the different structural glass elements.

The line may have a first section to the left of the indicator of the minimum glass element of a first colour to represent structural glass elements which do not meet the safety criterion, that is the maximum stress thereof is less than that of the minimum element, and a second section to the right of the indicator of the minimum glass element of a second colour to represent the structural glass elements which meet the safety criterion, that is the glass elements of the plurality 170, or 175 in case of application of the criterion type 140 too.

The glass element to be verified may be represented by an indicator arranged along such line. The distance from the indicator of the minimum structural glass element may indicate the deviation from the latter

It is clear that the above, that is the representation of the data 130 according to a predetermined order, may be carried out for any set of data displayed. Furthermore, the data 130 may be graphically represented in any manner.

The above example shall be deemed non-limiting. It is clear that the data 130 can be ordered differently according to different parameters which may be automatic or selectable by the user.

Thanks to such characteristics, even the non-skilled user will be able to see - in a simple and quick manner - whether the glass element to be verified is overestimated, if it is close to a limit condition, or - if it is not acceptable - the operator will be able to see whether the glass to be verified is close to an acceptable value or not.

Furthermore, thanks to the above, the operator will be able to see whether there are other structural glass elements that meet the design criteria 110, 120, and possibly that also meet a further criterion, for example one or more of the selection criteria 140.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, the data 130 may also comprise technical or technical-regulatory documents regarding the structural glass elements.

For example, such information may comprise: technical specification item; reference laws; reference standards; technical reference documents; technical reference literature; data sheet with calculation intermediates; static verification report; energy report.

In any case, the information regarding the data 130 may be displayed.

Such information may comprise a schematic drawing of the sheet, and one or more tables summarising the characteristics of the selected structural element.

Suitably, a plurality of tables regarding the technical specification item, reference laws, reference standards, technical documents, information and/or requirements regarding the installation of structural glass may be displayed.

Furthermore, the information displayed may comprise a technical report and/or one or more tables with the calculation intermediates and/or reference values normalised and non-normalised.

Generally, the "output" information, which may be a pdf document, may also contain information such as technical specifications, a regulatory and technical reference framework and useful and/or important information for the supply and installation of the structural glass element.

Irrespective of whether it was determined through a selection step or through a verification step, the user, for example the glassmaker, may acquire or manufacture the determined structural glass element and therefore meeting the design criteria and/or the selection criteria, and manufacture or provide such glass element to be verified 1.

The step for manufacturing the structural glass element 1 by the glassmaker may be carried out in a per se known manner.

Suitably, upon selecting the structural glass element 1 to be manufactured, the glass sheets can be picked up from a warehouse and processed based on the data 130.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, an automated warehouse having a logic control unit which can be operatively connected to the CPU of the computer 230 may be provided for.

In this manner, the computer program will automatically control the automated warehouse, for example to pick up the sheets of interest.

Below are examples of design data 110 which can be entered by the user or present on databases remotely or locally.

Generally, the data 110 may regard the operating conditions or limit conditions, that is they may regard the environment and the installation of the structural glass element and the shape thereof.

Design data regard one or more from:

- type and position of constraints;

- shape and size;

- applied loads;

- scope of use.

In this manner, depending on the design data, the forces to be applied to the glass (loads applied and scope of use), where the glass is most stressed (type and position of constraints) and the intensity of the stresses (shape and size), can be determined.

The loads applied may be anthropic, or due to the action of snow, wind, seismic, thermal and/or acoustic.

The scope of use may be the type of environment in which the glass can be installed, for example: residential environment such as homes excluding external parapets of balconies, terraces, roofs (Al), residential environment such as hotels excluding shared areas such as staircases, balconies, galleries (A2) or offices not open to the public and related shared staircases, balconies and galleries (Bl).

The types of environment can be defined according to the national laws (NTC 2018 in Italy) or Eurocodes (EN 1991-1) or other regulations in force in the various countries.

Suitably, different threshold load values and thus different calculations may be determined depending on the choice of the type of environment. For example, one can select an office that is not open to the public. In this case all the load values for this category can therefore be determined. Furthermore, possibly such values may be displayed to the operator, for example by means of a table. The program can use such values to carry out calculations.

The design data 110 may also regard:

- the type of partition wall, for example continuous facade, display windows and the like, barriers for channelling the crowd, interior walls and partitions, public space furnishing, urban furnishing elements;

- place of installation, for example: region, province, municipality, altitude, roughness class, distance from the sea, watertight structure and/or height of the glass base from the ground;

- operating temperature;

- loads and overloads of the concentrated or distributed type, for example an anthropic thrust, wind load, snow load;

- type and position of the constraints on the structural glass element 1, for example on four sides, on three sides, on two sides or on one side;

- shape and size to be supported by the structural glass element 1;

- loading time, temperature, edge finishing, non-slip, risk level;

A step 120 for collecting data regarding the safety design criterion, that is they may be relevant to determine whether or not the security requirement has been exceeded, may also be provided for. In other words, these data affect the determination of the safety requirement and/or the calculation method and/or the resistance/rigidity of the glass.

Preferably, such a safety requirement may include at least one from the maximum stress and/or maximum deformation criteria. In such a case, the data 120 may be relevant for calculating the maximum stress and/or maximum deformation. Preferably to establish the calculation criterion, for example the last limit condition, the operating limit condition and/or the collapse limit condition.

Possibly, the choice of such criterion may be subject to a regulation. In other words, the choice of a regulation to be followed may also involve the choice of the safety requirement criterion to be met and possibly of the step for calculating the plurality of elements 170. The data 120 may therefore comprise such a regulation or a plurality of regulations. Thus, the user may select the regulation that the structural glass element 1 to be determined must comply with.

For example, the data 120 may comprise the calculation criterion to be applied and therefore the regulation to be complied with, for example: CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016, DIN 18008-1:2012 DIN 18008-2:2012, CAHIER 3448:2006 DTU 39p4:2107 CAHIER 3034:2018, BS 6180:2011, Basic Document SE / SE-AE CNR DT210 EN16612 or EN 16612:2019.

Possibly, the data 120 may comprise different regulations depending on the country of installation. In such case, the user may select the country of installation, for example: Italy, Germany, France, United Kingdom, Spain, Belgium or Portugal.

Possibly, the data 120 may regard the characteristics of the glass sheets:

- the duration of application of the load on the structural glass element to be designed;

- surface and finishing treatments of the glass sheet or of the glass sheets: acidifying, sandblasting, milling, threading, grinding unprocessed wire, grinding polished wire;

- the thicknesses of the glass sheet or of the glass sheets of the structural glass element;

- the characteristics of the glass sheets used in the structural glass element to be designed.

It is clear that the data 110 and the data 120 can be linked to each other. For example, the selection of an application environment or of a consequence class, may identify the standard according to which the calculations are to be carried out, for example, the consequence class may be CC1, that is, free-falling infills and parapets, treadable surfaces or staircases verified at the collapse limit condition (SLC) according to CNR DT210/2013.

A step 190 for collecting data regarding the characteristics of the glass element or of the glass sheets that it consists of may also be provided for.

These characteristics may regard:

- the total thickness of the glass sheet or of the glass sheets;

- the number of glass sheets of the structural glass element 1;

- the shape of the glass sheet or of the glass sheets of the structural glass element 1: flat glass or a curved glass;

- The type of lamination between the glass sheets of the structural glass element (1), for example: plastics considered rigid, non-characterised plastics or characterised plastics, such as for example standard PVB, PVB Troslfol ^® KURARAY, PVB Saflex ^® EASTMAN, Secure ^® GLAAST, Eva B- flex GLAAST

- the operating temperature of the structural glass element (1);

- type of glass: monolithic or laminated glass or a double-glazing comprising monolithic or laminated sheets.

The selection criteria 140 may regard the performance of the structural glass element or criteria of particular advantage for the glassmaker or the end user.

The selection criteria related to the performance of the glass element may be related to transmittance, solar factor, light transmission, acoustic damping, size of the spacer groove, filling gases, internal and external pressure, place of production, place of installation, internal and external operating temperatures, presence of non-skid/screen printing, anti-burglary and/or bulletproof.

Such criteria may relate to the comfort performance of the glass element. For example, they may comprise rigidity, acoustic insulation and/or thermal insulation requirements.

These criteria allow to determine the behaviour of the glass element once the safety criteria have been met. The selection criteria 140 may be at the discretion of the designer and may relate to:

- weight, which may define the number of operators to be assigned to the installation, the lifting means and more generally for planning the installation on site;

- environmental footprint, which may define the most environmentally sustainable choice from those proposed by the program; - cost of production, which may define the most economical choice.

The selection criteria 140 may be particularly advantageous for the glassmaker, and may relate to:

Here are some examples of advantages for the glassmaker by applying some of the aforementioned selection criteria 140:

- criterion 140: ease of handling. Choice of at least one possible structural glass element 1 having glass sheets with equal thickness: in this manner, the advantage for glassmaker may be the reduced movement of the sheets in the warehouse;

- criterion 140: ease of handling. Choice of at least one possible structural glass element 1 with glass sheets of different thickness but with minimum variance: in this manner, the advantage for glassmaker may be the least weight in the handling to facilitate laying on site and not to burden the existing structures.

- criterion 140: cost. Choice of at least one possible structural glass element 1 having the lowest manufacturing cost: In this manner, the advantage for glassmaker may be the lowest manufacturing cost, with an evident advantage in terms of competitiveness on the market;

- criterion 140: use of scraps. Choice of at least one structural glass element 1 possible to be made with the scrap residues of previous processes available in the glassware store: in this way, the advantage for glassware may be the recovery of waste material, with a clear advantage in terms of market competitiveness.

The structural glass element may therefore meet or optimise one or more of the aforementioned criteria. The expression "optimise" is used to indicate maximising or minimising depending on the criterion. For example, in case of acoustic damping, the optimum may be the maximum acoustic damping, whereas in case of weight, the optimum may be the least weight, while in case of light transmission the optimum may be maximum or minimum depending on the needs.

It is therefore clear that "meeting" and "optimising" may vary depending on the criterion described above.

With reference to the light transmission performance, "meeting" or "optimising" is used to indicate that the structural glass element may have a light transmission performance greater than a predetermined value (meeting) or that it is the glass element of the plurality with the highest light transmission value (optimising).

For example, with reference to the "production and/or processing technologies", it is used to indicate if a glassmaker is capable or unable to carry out a given processing operation, for example grinding. In this case the criterion will be of the on/off type (met or not met): the plurality 175 will solely consist of glass elements which meet this criterion. On the other hand, with reference to the "weight" criterion which indicates the weight of the glass element, the plurality 175 may only bear the lower glass elements to a certain weight (meet) or the lighter glass element (optimise), or the two or three lighter glass elements.

As described above, such criteria 140 may be selected by the user or predetermined so that the program carries out such selection automatically.

It is clear that in case of verification, the criteria 140 will preferably be the criteria relating to the performance of the glass element, whereas in case of design, preferably, the criteria 140 may be the advantageous ones or at the discretion of the designer, that is of the glassmaker or the designer.

Examples of methods comprising the design step

Example 1

Input data 110: scope (office not open to the public), load (concentrated anthropic thrust and distributed wind load of 50 kg/m2), size (rectangular shape measuring 1650 mm wide and 2570 mm long) and constraints (on two sides", top and bottom).

Input data 120: type of article (partitions and display windows) and country of installation (Italy), treatment of the sheet (unprocessed, without grinding) in order to determine the consequence class (CC1) and therefore automatically the reference standard: CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016 and therefore the safety requirement and the calculation method.

Once these data 110, 120 have been entered, the program carries out the calculation step to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 which comply with the safety criterion.

For example, there may be calculated the structural elements consisting of a single glass sheet having a thickness of 8 mm 12mm, 15mm, 19mm, 22mm and 25mm and of a pair of glass sheets having the following lamination (the numbers indicate the thickness in mm of the sheet of the individual glass sheets: 316, 318, 3110, 3112, 3115, 414, 415, 416, 418, 4110, 4112, 4115, 515, 516, 518, 5110.

Example 2

Input data 110: scope of use (office not open to the public), applied load (concentrated anthropic thrust and distributed wind load of 80 kg/m ² ), constraints (on two sides laterally), size (rectangular shape measuring 2350 mm wide and 1550 mm wide).

Input data 120: safety requirement and calculation method (CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016 standard).

Input data 190: Number and types of glass sheets (2, laminated)

Performance selection criteria 140: none; advantageous criteria 140 for the glassmaker: manufacturing speed and production cost (sheets having equal thickness) and weight (sheets having lower thickness). the program carries out the calculation step based on the data 110, 120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 that comply with the safety criterion (3|6, 3|8, 3 | 10, 3112, 3115, 414, 415, 416, 418, 4110, 4112, 4115, 515, 516, 518, 5110), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements 175 based on the selection criteria 140.

The structural glass element is displayed with lamination: 4|4.

Example 3

Input data 110: Scope of use (internal partition wall for offices), constraints (two-sided, top and bottom), sizes (1300 x 2450 mm).

Input data 120: Maximum stress safety requirement (Standard: CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016)

Input data 190: Number of sheets and type of glass (1, monolithic), shape of glass (flat glass).

Performance selection criteria 140: light transmission, acoustic damping; and advantageous criteria 140 for the glassmaker: warehouse availability and weight (lower total thickness).

Input data 155 for the sheets in the warehouse (4, 5, 6 and 8 mm sheets are available in the warehouse).

Similarly, once such data has been entered, the program carries out the calculation step based on the data 110,120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 that meet the safety criterion (8mm 12mm, 15mm, 19mm, 22mm and 25mm), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements 175 based on the selection criteria 140 and 155.

The monolithic structural glass element with 8 mm sheet is displayed.

Example 4

Input data 110: Scope of use (treadable hopper front, non-treadable household area), constraints (four sides), size (1500 x 800 mm).

Input data 120: Maximum deformation safety requirement (CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016), surface and finishing treatments (sandblasting).

Input data 190: Number of sheets and type of glass (2, laminated), shape of glass (flat glass).

Performance selection criteria 140: non-skid and advantageous criteria 140 for the glassmaker: production cost and manufacturing speed.

Input data 150 relating to the costs of sheets in the warehouse (laminated 414 70 €/m ² , laminated non-skid 515 100 €/m ² , laminated non-skid 416 150 €/m ² ),

Input data 160 relating to the times for manufacturing the sheets by the glassmaker (laminated with identical sheets 1 day, laminated with different sheets 2 days). Similarly, once such data has been entered, the program carries out the calculation step based on the data 110, 120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 that comply with the safety criterion (316, 318, 3110, 3112, 3115, 414, 415, 416, 418, 4110, 4112, 4115, 515, 516, 518, 5110), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements175 based on the selection criteria 140 and 155.

The structural glass element is displayed with lamination: 515.

Example 5

Input data 110: Scope of use (school roof), constraints (four sides), size (2500 x 2500 mm).

Input data 120: Maximum allowed deformation safety requirement (CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016)

Input data 190: Number of sheets and type of glass (2, double-glazing), shape of glass (flat glass), operating temperature 25° C).

Performance selection criteria 140: transmittance, solar factor, light transmission, dimensions of the spacer groove, filling gases, internal and external pressure and criteria 140 advantageous for the glassmaker: production cost.

Input data 150 relating to the production costs of double glazing (2 equal monolithic sheets 120 €/m ² , two sheets with laminated 414 140 €/m ² , two sheets with laminated 515 200 €/m ² , two sheets with laminated 416300 €/m ² ).

Similarly, once such data has been entered, the program carried out the calculation step based on the data 110,120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 made of double glazing that comply with the safety criterion (double-glazing with 4mm and 5mm identical pairs of monolithic sheets, 3mm and 6 mm different pairs of monolithic sheets, of double glazing with pairs of laminated sheets 316, 318, 414, 415, 416, 418, 515, 516), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements 175 based on the selection criteria 140.

The structural glass double-glazing element with two 4mm monolithic glass sheets is displayed.

Examples of methods comprising the verification step

Example 6

Input data 110: scope (office not open to the public), load (concentrated anthropic thrust and distributed wind load of 50 kg/m ² ), size (rectangular shape measuring 1650 mm wide and 2570 mm long) and constraints (on two sides", top and bottom).

Input data 120: type of article (partitions and display windows) and country of installation (Italy), treatment of the sheet (unprocessed, without grinding) in order to determine the consequence class (CC1) and therefore automatically the reference standard: CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016 and therefore the safety requirement and the calculation method.

Input data 190: total thickness (10 mm), number and types of glass sheets (2, stratified 416), type of lamination (PVC lamination with characterised plastic), operating temperature (26°C).

Subsequently, the plurality of glass elements 170 is calculated starting from said data 110,120 and 190(316,318,3110,3112,3115,414,415,416,418,4110,4112,4115,51 5,516,518,5110) and it is verified whether the glass element to be verified (lamination 416) is present in such plurality 170.

In this case, the lamination 416 is present from those calculated above and therefore the glass to be verified meets the design safety criterion.

Example 7

Input data 110: scope (office not open to the public), load (concentrated anthropic thrust and distributed wind load of 50 kg/m ² ), size (rectangular shape measuring 1650 mm wide and 2570 mm long) and constraints (on two sides", top and bottom).

Input data 120: type of article (partitions and display windows) and country of installation (Italy), treatment of the sheet (unprocessed, without grinding) in order to determine the consequence class (CC1) and therefore automatically the reference standard: CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016 and therefore the safety requirement and the calculation method.

Input data 190: total thickness (10 mm), number and types of glass sheets (2, stratified 416), type of lamination (PVC lamination with characterised plastic), operating temperature (26°C).

Performance selection criteria 140: acoustic damping (total thickness greater than 12 mm); criteria140 advantageous for the glassmaker: none.

The program carries out the calculation step based on the data 110,120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 that comply with the safety criterion (316,318,3110, 3112, 3115, 414, 415, 416, 418, 4110, 4112, 4115, 515, 516, 518, 5110), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements 175 based on the selection criteria 140 (518, 5110) and it is verified whether the glass element to be verified (lamination 416) is present in such plurality 175.

The envisaged glass element (416) does not meet the acoustic damping criterion 140.

Example 8

Input data 110: Scope of use (internal partition wall for offices), constraints (two-sided, top and bottom), sizes (1300 x 2450 mm).

Input data 120: Maximum stress safety requirement (Standard: CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016)

Input data 190: Number of sheets and type of glass (1, monolithic), shape of glass (flat glass); thickness of the envisaged sheet (10mm).

Performance selection criteria 140: maximum light transmission (monolithic glass or double- glazing) and acoustic damping (total thickness greater than 12mm) and criteria 140 advantageous for the glassmaker: none.

The program carries out the calculation step based on the data 110,120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 that comply with the safety criterion (8 mm 12mm, 15mm, 19mm, 22mm and 25mm), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements 175 based on the selection criteria 140 (monolithic 15mm, 19mm, 22mm and 25mm) and it is verified whether the glass element to be verified is present in such plurality 175.

The envisaged glass element (10mm monolithic) does not meet all criteria 140.

Example 9

Input data 110: scope of use (treadable hopper front, non-treadable household area), constraints (four sides), size (1500 x 800 mm).

Input data 120: maximum deformation safety requirement (CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016), surface and finishing treatments (sandblasting).

Input data 190: Number of sheets and type of glass (2, laminated), shape of glass (flat glass); envisaged total thickness (10mm).

Performance selection criteria 140: minimum light transmission (laminated) and criteria 140 advantageous for the glassmaker: none.

The program carries out the calculation step based on the data 110, 120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 that comply with the safety criterion (monolithic 8 mm 12mm, 15mm, 19mm, 22mm and 25mm and laminated 316, 318, 3110, 3112, 3115, 414, 415, 416, 418, 4110, 4112, 4115, 515, 516, 518, 5110), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements 175 based on the selection criteria 140 (laminated316,318, 3110, 3112, 3115,414,415,416,418,4110, 4112, 4115, 515, 516, 518, 5110) and it is verified whether the glass element to be verified is present in such plurality 175.

The envisaged glass element (10mm monolithic) does not meet all criteria 140.

Example 10

Input data 110: Scope of use (school roof), constraints (four sides), size (2500 x 2500 mm).

Input data 120: Maximum allowed deformation safety requirement (CNR DT 210:2013 UNI 11463:2016).

Input data 190: Number of sheets and type of glass (2, double glazing), shape of glass (flat glass), envisaged sheet thicknesses: 414.

Performance selection criteria 140: none and design criteria 140: low environmental impact. Input data 160 relating to low environmental impact (thickness of each sheet less than 6 mm)

The program carries out the calculation step based on the data 110, 120 and 190 to calculate the plurality of structural glass elements 170 that comply with the safety criterion (double glazing with 316, 318, 3110, 3112, 3115, 414, 415, 416, 418, 4110, 4112, 4115, 515, 516, 518, 5110 monolithic sheets), and subsequently selecting a plurality of possible glass elements 175 based on the selection criteria 140 (316, 414, 415, 416, 515, 516 monolithic sheets) and it is verified whether the glass element to be verified is present in such plurality 175.

The envisaged glass element (double-glazing with 414 thick monolithic sheets) meets all criteria 140.

The invention is susceptible to numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the attached claims. All details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements, and the materials can be different depending on the technical needs, without departing from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.