After completion of the course, the student is expected: - to have acquired the technical language specific for the subject - to explain the mechanical properties and technological aspects of wood and glass as materials for the construction industry and illustrate pros and cons in the use of such materials to build structural components - to attain notions relating to the behavior of wood and glass structures in seismic areas - to apply the proper methodologies and tools for the design of single wood and glass structural members - to set out the design of a more complex structure, being able to identify the material and the structural typology most suitable for the different cases that can be encountered in the professional activity

Students are expected to have already acquired the basic knowledge and abilities typically developed in Bachelor-level courses in mathematics, mechanics of materials and structural engineering. In particular, students should be able to: • apply equilibrium equations and determine internal forces in simple structural systems; • calculate stresses and strains in beams, columns and simple structural members; • use concepts of elastic behaviour, strength, stiffness, stability and serviceability; • understand ultimate and serviceability limit state design principles and basic load combinations; • read technical drawings and interpret structural details; • use basic numerical tools, spreadsheets or scientific software for engineering calculations. Previous exposure to structural design codes is useful but not mandatory. Essential code concepts required for timber and glass design will be introduced and used during the course.

The course consists of 60 hours, equally divided into 30 hours for Timber Structures and 30 hours for Glass Structures. The distribution below is indicative and may be slightly adjusted according to the academic calendar and the progress of application activities. Part A - TIMBER STRUCTURES, 30 hours A1. Timber as a structural material – 5 h • wood anatomy and material structure; sawn timber and engineered wood products; natural and physical characteristics; anisotropy; moisture effects; strength grading; GLULAM and CLT/XLAM production principles; sustainability and life-cycle considerations. A2. Design principles and limit states for timber members – 8 h • load-duration effects; service classes; modification factors; size effects; ultimate and serviceability limit states; bending, shear, compression, tension and combined axial–bending verification; stability of columns and beams; vibrations and deflection control; introduction to fire design and charring. A3. Glued-laminated timber and cross-laminated timber – 5 h • GLULAM members with straight, tapered and curved geometries; CLT/XLAM orthotropic behaviour; plate and panel action; floor, wall and roof panels; diaphragm action; openings and local stress concentrations; design implications for multi-storey timber buildings. A4. Timber connections – 7 h • load paths and connection hierarchy; nails, screws, bolts, dowels and steel-to-timber joints; Johansen yield theory; embedment strength; rope effect; group effects; splitting, block shear and brittle failure modes; glued joints; stiffness, slip, ductility and energy dissipation. A5. Timber structural systems and performance requirements – 5 h • light-frame, post-and-beam, solid timber, CLT modular and hybrid systems; bracing and horizontal stabilisation; seismic behaviour and ductile design concepts; detailing for durability and fire resistance. Part B - GLASS STRUCTURES, 30 hours B1. Introduction to structural glass (6 h): • overview of structural applications of glass and representative built examples; production of glass and types of glass elements (monolithic glass, laminated glass, insulated glazing units); mechanical and physical properties; basis of fracture mechanics; stress corrosion; effects of surface treatments; materials for glass composites (polymers, adhesives, sealants). B2. Design criteria and different types of structural elements (6 h): general design principles (structural hierarchy, structural strength, structural redundancy, durability); actions on glass elements; structural classification of glass elements (out-of-plane loaded elements, in-plane loaded elements); types of connections. B3. Analytical and numerical modelling (6 h): modelling strategies for monolithic and laminated glass, including linear, nonlinear, and time dependent approaches; numerical methods for predicting stress fields, deflections, and buckling; modelling of interlayer behaviour, load sharing, and post fracture response. . B4. Structural design and verification of glass elements (12 h): design of out-of-plane loaded members (balustrades, floor plates);; design of in-plane loaded members affected by axial compression or lateral-torsional buckling (columns, beams, fins); design of connections; assessment of the post-fracture behavior.

The course requires regular study and active participation in the application-oriented sessions. Homework and individual technical reports are designed to progressively develop the analytical, design and communication skills required for the final examination. Deadlines communicated through the Teaching Portal are part of the course organisation. The course is taught in English. All reports, presentations and oral examination activities are normally carried out in English, unless otherwise authorised by the lecturer.

The course comprises 60 contact hours, structured as follows: • Timber Structures module: 30 hours, including lectures, worked examples and application-oriented sessions on material behaviour, member design, connection design and structural systems; • Glass Structures module: 30 hours, including lectures, worked examples and application-oriented sessions on glass products, fracture behaviour, modelling, verification, connections and post-fracture performance; • within the 60 hours, approximately 42 hours are devoted to theoretical and methodological lectures, approximately 14 hours to worked design examples and guided exercises, and approximately 4 hours to project/report guidance, discussion and feedback. In parallel with the taught components, each student prepares two individual technical reports or design studies: one on timber structures and one on glass structures. These activities require a targeted literature review, explicit modelling assumptions, code-based or guideline-based verification, critical interpretation of results and concise technical communication.

Main references • Porteous, J., Kermani, A. Structural Timber Design to Eurocode 5. Wiley-Blackwell, 2013. • Thelandersson, S., Larsen, H. J. Timber Engineering. Wiley, 2003. • CNR-DT 210/2013. Istruzioni per la Progettazione, l’Esecuzione ed il Controllo di Costruzioni con Elementi Strutturali di Vetro. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche. • O’Regan C. Structural Use of Glass in Buildings (second edition). The Institution of Structural Engineers • Wurm, J. Glass Structures: Design and Construction of Self-supporting Skins. Springer, 2007. • Patterson, M. Structural Glass Facades and Enclosures. Wiley, 2011. Additional and recommended references • Piazza, M., Tomasi, R., Modena, R. Strutture in legno. Materiale, calcolo e progetto secondo le nuove normative europee. Hoepli, 2005. • De Angelis, A. Strutture in legno lamellare. Progettazione e calcolo. DEI, 2006. • Chilton, J. Space Grid Structures. Architectural Press, 2000. • Chilton, J. Atlante delle strutture reticolari. UTET, 2002. • EN 1995-1-1, Eurocode 5: Design of timber structures – General rules and rules for buildings. • EN 1995-1-2, Eurocode 5: Design of timber structures – Structural fire design. • EN 1998-1, Eurocode 8: Design of structures for earthquake resistance – General rules, seismic actions and rules for buildings, for seismic design principles where relevant. • prEN/EN documents, technical approvals and manufacturer documentation on structural glass products and systems, as indicated during the course. • Selected scientific papers and technical notes made available through the Teaching Portal.

Lecture slides; Exercises; Exercise with solutions ;

Exam: Compulsory oral exam; Individual project;

The examination is designed to verify the expected learning outcomes by assessing theoretical understanding, design capability, modelling awareness, accuracy of calculations, critical judgement and technical communication. The examination format is the same for all official examination sessions, unless otherwise required by University regulations. Assessment components • Continuous assessment, homework and individual technical reports: 40%. • Compulsory final oral examination: 60%. The final grade is expressed out of 30. The exam is passed with a final grade of at least 18/30. Honours may be awarded to students who demonstrate excellent and integrated mastery of both timber and glass topics, rigorous calculations, mature engineering judgement, high-quality documentation and particularly clear oral communication. Continuous assessment, homework and technical reports – 40% Students complete homework assignments and two individual technical reports or design studies: one related to timber structures and one related to glass structures. The deliverables must include the problem statement, assumptions, material and product selection, design actions, analytical or numerical model, verification procedure, results, discussion of limitations and bibliographic references. Evaluation considers correctness, completeness, reproducibility, clarity, critical reasoning and punctuality. The complete set of homework and reports must be submitted according to the deadlines communicated through the Teaching Portal. Unless otherwise specified, missing mandatory deliverables may preclude access to the final oral examination or may result in a reduced continuous assessment score. Compulsory final oral examination – 60% The final oral examination lasts approximately 30–60 minutes. It assesses three complementary dimensions: • Theoretical knowledge: questions on the mechanical behaviour of timber and glass, terminology, material properties, code principles, failure mechanisms and performance requirements; • Applied design and problem solving: discussion of simplified calculations, verification procedures, connection behaviour, modelling assumptions and interpretation of results; • Project/report presentation and critical discussion: presentation of the timber and glass technical reports, with questions on assumptions, design choices, structural idealisation, robustness, durability and possible alternatives. Evaluation standards • accuracy and rigour of calculations and engineering reasoning; • appropriate use of design codes, technical guidelines and simplified analytical models; • quality and transparency of assumptions, modelling choices and verification procedures; • ability to compare alternative solutions for safety, serviceability, durability, sustainability and constructability; • clarity of oral, written and graphical communication; • autonomy, critical thinking and professional judgement. Academic integrity All submitted work must be original, properly referenced and reproducible. The use of software, spreadsheets, numerical models, manufacturer data, external sources or artificial intelligence tools must be declared when relevant and must remain under the student’s critical control. Plagiarism, undeclared reuse of material or non-transparent generation of content will be handled according to University regulations. Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders Students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (DSA), in addition to the official notification through the University procedure, are invited to contact the lecturer at least one week before the beginning of the examination session to communicate the compensatory tools agreed with the Special Needs Unit, so that the most appropriate arrangements can be implemented with respect to the examination format.

In addition to the message sent by the online system, students with disabilities or Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) are invited to directly inform the professor in charge of the course about the special arrangements for the exam that have been agreed with the Special Needs Unit. The professor has to be informed at least one week before the beginning of the examination session in order to provide students with the most suitable arrangements for each specific type of exam.