Design and production of a structural cast glass element for a transparent dome

In this paper the preliminary study of a novel all-transparent glass dome will be presented. Aim is the design of an elegant and structurally safe transparent large-span dome out of cast glass bricks. These are bonded with a clear, Ultraviolet (UV) curing, acrylic-based adhesive resulting to the maximal transparency and coherence of the structure. With the aid of parametric tools special attention is given to the development of the dome’s components in order to minimize the number of different glass bricks required, and thus simplify the production and assembly process. Scale models of the component are produced in the laboratory, to assess its configuration and further study its production method and structural performance. This paper follows the component’s production process from the laser-cutting of a reference model, to the construction of a fire-resistant mould via the lost-wax technique, and the kiln-casting of the glass element.