Parametric Analyses of the Influence of Temperature, Load Duration, and Interlayer Thickness on a Laminated Glass Structure Exposed to Out-of-Plane Loading

Abstract

One of today’s most-used glass products is a composite made of at least two glass panels connected with a soft polymeric interlayer—laminated glass. The mechanical properties of such elements are influenced by interlayer properties and the type of glass used. In this work, experimental and numerical analyses of laminated glass panels exposed to four-point bending are performed to observe and compare the stresses and displacements caused by different parameters, such as temperature, load duration, the thickness and type of the interlayers, as well as the symmetrical and nonsymmetrical disposition of the glass plates’ thickness. The numerical analysis was verified by four-point bending experimental tests. After validation, a parametric study on these influences was performed. To obtain the relationship between the load duration, temperature, and thickness of the interlayer compared to the maximal displacement (as a measure of flexural stiffness) and tension stress in the bottom glass plate, an analytical polynomial of a sixth total order is proposed. Isosurfaces are created, showing the dependence of stresses and displacements on the specified parameters as well as clearly showing differences in the behavior of laminated glass panels for the same conditions but with different interlayers. Based on the findings of the parametric study, conclusions are derived about the flexural stiffness and stress distribution in two-plate laminated glass with PVB and ionoplast interlayers.

Keywords

• laminated glass
• interlayer
• experimental test
• numerical model
• parametric analysis