Multi-performance blast pressure-duration curves for point-supported laminated and monolithic glass panes

Abstract

Although point-supported glazing systems have been widely used in modern architecture, their blast performance is not fully documented yet. Most of the available code specifications and design guidelines are developed exclusively for frame-supported glass panes, i.e. panes with continuous edge supports, and it is expected that their point-supported counterparts are more vulnerable to blast loads. This study is devoted to evaluate blast performance of point-supported Laminated Glass (LG) and Thermally Tempered Glass (TTG) panes by using validated 3D Finite Element (FE) models. Considering different limit states (ranging from initial cracking to ultimate failure), multi-performance Pressure-Duration (P-D) curves, maximum pane deformations and maximum support reactions are developed for point-supported LG and TTG panes with varying dimensions, layups and thicknesses. Obtained results indicate that, compared with Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB) layer thickness, glass layer thickness has greater contribution to the blast resistance of LG panes. Moreover, in the case of small dimension point-supported panes, TTG panes unexpectedly outperformed LG panes, especially during blasts with higher positive durations. Finally, P-D curves of point-supported panes are compared with those of frame-supported panes. With a few exceptions, point-supported panes generally have significantly less blast resistance than their frame-supported counterparts. The difference is more pronounced in the case of larger dimension glass panes. This indicates that P-D curves of current codes and guidelines, which were developed based on frame-supported glass panes, cannot be directly applied to point-supported glass panes.