Structural Glass Load Analysis & Documentation
Analyze structural glass loads and generate code-compliant facade engineering documentation
What You Can Do
You can input architectural parameters, environmental data, and code requirements to automatically calculate simultaneous loads on glass assemblies, determine minimum glass thickness and support specifications, and generate glazing schedules and stress reports. This eliminates manual load case combinations and identifies design conflicts before fabrication, ensuring compliance with building codes and reducing engineering rework.
Features
Processes pressure coefficients, exposure categories, and dynamic pressure per ASCE 7 to determine design wind loads on glass surfaces
Quantifies differential expansion stresses across glass panes and frames under temperature extremes and solar gain conditions
Applies spectral acceleration, importance factors, and drift limits to calculate lateral forces and anchor requirements per IBC/ASCE 7
Automatically assembles critical load combinations (dead + live + wind, dead + wind + thermal, dead + seismic) with appropriate code-specified factors
Recommends minimum thickness based on span, support conditions, and allowable stress for annealed, tempered, or laminated assemblies
Generates tabular specifications with pane dimensions, thickness, material grade, bolt patterns, and support spacing for fabrication
Calculates principal stresses, shear stresses, and deflection ratios with code compliance checkmarks and failure risk flags
Identifies incompatibilities between architectural intent and structural requirements (e.g., span-to-thickness ratios exceeding limits)
Example Output
Example 1: High-Rise Curtain Wall Glass
- Input: 4-story glass facade, 8×12 ft panes, 90 mph wind zone, 1,000 ft elevation
- Output: Wind load 45 psf → Thermal stress +2,500 psi → Seismic drift 0.8" → Recommends 1.25" laminated tempered glass with 16 anchor bolts on 8" circles
- Compliance: ✓ ASCE 7-22 wind load verified, ✓ Thermal stress within 10,000 psi limit, ✓ Drift acceptable per architectural tolerance
Example 2: Atrium Skylight Analysis
- Input: 30×60 ft overhead glass, sloped 30°, high seismic region (Seismic Design Category D)
- Output: Dead load 5 psf + Snow 20 psf + Seismic acceleration 0.5g = Combined 32 psf equivalent → Deflection span/120 → Requires 2" heat-strengthened glass with 12" support spacing
- Report includes: Load case matrix, stress diagrams, installation sequence notes, emergency escape compliance
Example 3: Retrofit Seismic Upgrade
- Input: Existing 0.375" annealed glass, existing bolting pattern, new seismic requirement (1.2g)
- Output: Current assembly insufficient (stress 18,500 psi vs. 2,500 psi allowable) → Recommends retrofit: add 0.375" laminated layer or replace with 0.75" tempered glass
What's Included
- SKILL.md instruction file with load analysis methodology and code-compliance logic:
- Glass Load Calculation Template: Pre-formatted input sheet for pane geometry, exposure, elevation, and design parameters
- Load Case Combination Checklist: IBC/ASCE 7 load factor matrix and critical combination flags
- Glazing Schedule Workflow: Structured output format for fabricator specifications and shop drawing coordination
- Stress Report Framework: Automated compliance summary with flagged violations and remediation options
Who It's For
- Facade engineers and structural glass consultants specifying assemblies for commercial and high-rise buildings
- Architectural technologists preparing code compliance documentation and design specifications
- Glass fabricators validating customer designs and determining manufacturing requirements
- Building code officials and third-party plan reviewers verifying glazing system adequacy
- MEP/structural engineers on retrofit and seismic upgrade projects requiring existing glass assessment
Best For
- Wind, thermal, and seismic load analysis for structural glass curtain walls and storefronts
- Load case combination generation per IBC/ASCE 7 standards
- Glass thickness and support spacing determination for custom facade geometries
- Glazing schedule generation for fabrication, installation, and permit documentation
- Compliance verification and design conflict identification before fabrication release
- Value engineering and material alternates analysis (annealed vs. tempered vs. laminated)
- Seismic retrofit assessment of existing non-compliant glass assemblies
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