Experimental study and comparison of different fully transparent laminated glass beam designs

Xavier Centelles,J Ramon Castro,Manuel Aenlle-López,F Pelayo,Luisa F Cabeza

doi:10.1007/s40940-021-00160-y

Xavier Centelles, J Ramon Castro + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s40940-021-00160-y

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Abstract

Laminated glass beams without metallic or polymeric reinforcements generally lack post-breakage strength and ductility. This paper aims to perform a comparative study by testing five different fully transparent laminated glass beam designs in order to see how parameters such as the number and thickness of glass sheets (3 x 10 mm or 5 x 6 mm), the interlayer material (PVB Clear or SentryGlas), and the thermal treatment of glass (annealed or heat-strengthened) affect the pre-breakage performance and post-breakage safety. A buckling analysis is also performed using a numerical model with ABAQUS CAE. The study includes a comparison between the results of different experimental mechanical tests on laminated glass beams, including the tests presented in this paper, as well as other tests found in the literature. All designs presented a linear elastic behaviour until initial breakage. The interlayer material mainly affected the crack shape of laminated glass beams. Beams with five sheets of annealed glass had a more progressive breakage, and therefore a safer behaviour, than beams with three sheets of annealed or heat-strengthened glass.

Highlights

Modern architecture aims to create buildings with a higher level of transparency, in order to increase the natural sunlight indoors and bring the occupants closer to its surroundings
In addition to that, when a glass sheet breaks, the glass fragments can be projected causing injuries to the occupants Kozłowski (2019). This same problem was experienced in car windshields, because glass is prone to breakage due to hard body impacts Chen et al (2016), such as rocks, or soft body impacts (Liu et al 2016; Wang and Yue 2010), such as pedestrians or animals, which could cause the loss of integrity of the glass windshield and severe injuries to the passengers or the pedestrians
A four-point bending test was performed on laminated glass beams

Summary

Introduction

Modern architecture aims to create buildings with a higher level of transparency, in order to increase the natural sunlight indoors and bring the occupants closer to its surroundings. The use of glass, which originally was limited to windows, later expanded to transparent facades and roofs. In addition to that, when a glass sheet breaks, the glass fragments can be projected causing injuries to the occupants Kozłowski (2019). This same problem was experienced in car windshields, because glass is prone to breakage due to hard body impacts Chen et al (2016), such as rocks, or soft body impacts (Liu et al 2016; Wang and Yue 2010), such as pedestrians or animals, which could cause the loss of integrity of the glass windshield and severe injuries to the passengers or the pedestrians. That is why laminated glass was invented and initially used in car windshields in order to prevent glass shards from scattering in case of accidental breakage Xu et al (2011)

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