Numerical simulations and static, cyclic and dynamic laboratory tests performed on the first two prototypes TVTα (L= 2330 mm), and TVTβ (L= 3330 mm) confirmed the initial intuitions and conceptual ideas and evidenced also the capability of the beam to dissipate energy by means of friction developed by small slip movements between steel knots and glass panels and also by visco-elastic deformations in the plastic, interlayer material.
In particular, the TVTβ prototype, weighting only 125 daN, has reached a total collapse load 40 times his own weight, i.e. almost 5000 daN .