Experimental study on laminated glass responses of high-speed trains subject to windblown sand particles loading

Abstract

China has built high-speed railways in desert areas. When high-speed trains run in wind-sand flows, wind pressure and sand impact increase the fracture probability of side-window laminated glass. This paper aims to explore the dynamic response and impact resistance performance of laminated glass in high-speed trains subjected to windborne sand particles loading using full-scale experimental tests. Dynamic pressure tests were carried out using an air cannon on the laminated glass to evaluate the glass response under wind dynamic pressure loading. Sandstone impact tests were conducted to study the laminated glass dynamic behavior during particle impact loading. The study results demonstrate that sand impact loading was the primary factor causing the laminated glass damage. The mixed-mode crack initiation and propagation were driven by the reflected tensile waves and Rayleigh surface waves under sandstone impacts. In addition, a statistical analysis of the scratch velocity of the laminated glass suggested that the size of sandstone and impact angle were sensitive to the scratch velocity in the sand particles impacts. This research provides practical help for designing crack-resistant laminated glass structures for high-speed trains.