From Melt to Structure: The Science and Technology of Flat Soda–Lime–Silicate Glass for Structural Engineers

Flat soda–lime–silicate glass is the dominant glass type used in contemporary buildings. This paper provides a comprehensive and integrated review of the scientific principles and technological processes that underpin its manufacture, processing, and structural performance. The discussion spans the glass transition and the nature of the glassy state; the network structure of soda–lime–silicate glass, with its inherent lack of long-range order; and its physical and mechanical properties, including fracture. The industrial production of flat soda–lime–silicate glass (melting, float-forming, and annealing) and its subsequent processing (thermal tempering, chemical strengthening, and coating) are described in detail, with emphasis on how they influence residual stresses, surface and edge quality, and structural reliability. Environmental considerations and ongoing advances in energy efficiency and decarbonisation are also examined. By linking the fundamentals of glass science to modern structural design standards, particularly the forthcoming Eurocode 10 for glass structures, the article seeks to equip structural engineers with an informed understanding of glass as a high-performance material for innovative and sustainable design.