Project Title: Optimisation of the thermal and structural performance of an integrated patio door

Project Partner: Centor Design Pty Ltd

Brief Outline:
Designing glass doors to complement contemporary architecture is not straightforward. Typically clients want uninterrupted views to the outside world spanning fairly large lengths of their external walls. However, the constraints of structural integrity, safety and functionality mean that structural components (door frames) are required. A large patio door is inherently a spatially heterogeneous object consisting of many different materials (not all of which are solids). Centor would like to know what is the optimal combination of these materials in their bi-fold door design such that thermal performance is maximised (u-value is minimised) whilst, crucially, ensuring that structural integrity (strength, flex, sag, bend) is not compromised.