Economical design of glass and aluminum panels by the large deflection theory

Owing to possible saving in material weight nonlinear and large deflection plate theory based on the von Karmen assumption has been commonly used in countries like France for economical design of thickness of aluminum and glass panels. With the trend of globalisatlon, it appears that Hang Kong engineers need to equip themselves on various new techniques for enhancing their competitiveness and non-linear analysis and design is considered to be one of these advanced techniques. Glass panel is commanly used in curtain waifs and glass strudures. In this paper, the finite element program far large deflection analysis of plates and shelfs, NAF-SHELL, is emplayed to analyse the behaviour of thin glass plate by the van Karman assumption. The theory, pradice and concept for non-linear analysis using a simple 8-bar truss model are addressed. From the conceptual B-bar truss model. we can very easily visualise the region for tensile and compressive stresses and also the significance of large deflection in a glass panel.