Calculation Methods for the Structural Behavior of Laminated Glass

Faade Session - Advanced Architectural Glass Applications

Dr. Stephen J. Bennison*, Mr. Ingo Stelzer*, Mr. Phillip S. Davies*, Mr. Jay G Sloan*, Professor Huang Xiaokun** and Mr. Liu Gang** * E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co Inc., Wilmington, DE USA ** China Academy of Building Research (CABR), Beijing China

Keywords
1=Laminated Glass 4=Effective Thickness 2=Ionoplast 5=Finite Elements 3=PVB 6=Strength

Abstract
Our understanding of the structural performance of laminated glass has made great advances over the past decade. In this contribution we review two major calculation methods that have been developed to compute stress and deformation development during the loading of laminated glass: 1) the effective thickness method, and 2) the finite element method. Key to both approaches is an accurate constitutive model for the interlayer deformation characteristics. Any model for the polymer needs to represent accurately the interlayer response to temperature and load duration. Validity of both approaches has been tested by comparing simulations to controlled experiments that quantify the deformation characteristics of laminated glass plates and beams. The calculation methods developed allow determination of laminate stress and deflection for different geometries, laminate constructions, interlayer types, loading/ support configurations, load histories, and temperatures. Development of these methods has laid the foundation for objective structural design with laminated glass and optimum, valueengineered glazing solutions.

and associated computational tools [4] and the development of appropriate interlayer property information that accurately captures the effects of load duration and temperature on the polymer constitutive properties. In this contribution we review two approaches to the calculation of laminate structural behavior. The first, the effective thickness method, is relatively new and fills a need to provide a simplified method than can be implemented in basic calculation schemes and standards or codes of practice. The second, the finite element method, is a well established engineering method and has seen growing use in the design of laminated glass during the last few years as interlayer property information has become readily available.

1 shows the shear modulus properties of the Ionoplast interlayer (DuPont SentryGlas) used in the tests and required to calculate the laminate effective thickness.
Temperature, T (oC) 10 20 24 30 40 50 60 70 80 SentryGlas Shear Modulus, G 1 minute load duration (MPa) 225 195 173 110 30.7 11.3 3.64 1.88 0.83

Table 1 SentryGlas shear moduli for a range of temperature (1 minute load duration).

Effective Thickness Method

The concept of the effective thickness of laminated glass has recently gained traction in the design community and is based on analysis of composite sandwich structures originally developed by Wlfel [5]. The analysis proposes analytic equations that provide a method of calculating the thickness of a monolithic beam with equivalent bending properties to a laminated beam. This thickness then can be used in place of the actual thickness in analytic equations for deformation of beams and simplified finite element analysis. The analytic equations describe the shear coupling between two glass plies through the interlayer. The shear coupling depends primarily on the interlayer shear modulus, G, glass properties, laminate geometry and the length scale in the problem. A summary of the mathematical foundation of the effective thickness method is presented in the accompanying contribution by Calderone et al in these proceedings [6]. We have tested the effective thickness formulations directly by comparing the computed laminate effective thickness with direct measurements of the laminate effective thickness from a model four point bend experiment (following the proposed ISO 1288-3 standard). Table

Introduction
Computation of laminate deformation and associated glass stress development is an integral component of the design process for laminated glass. The glass industry continues to demand improved calculation methods in response to: 1) novel glass design opportunities and applications, 2) development and commercialization of new materials of construction for glazing applications, 3) the relentless market forces of value engineering. The structural behaviour of laminated glass is a complex topic and many factors influence the response of a laminated plate or beam to an imposed load. Despite this complexity, much progress has been made in understanding laminated glass in the last decade [1-3]. This progress is primarily attributable to advances in mechanics

The calculated effective laminate thickness for stress behaviour is compared to the measured behavior in Figure 1. As can be seen, the predicted effective thickness behaviour is in close agreement with the measured behaviour. We have also carried out similar experiments using PVB laminates and have found the approach to be accurate in describing the effective

Figure 1 Effective thickness for a nominal 5 mm glass / 0.76 mm DuPont SentryGlas / 5 mm glass laminate under four point bending for a range of temperatures.
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Faade Session - Advanced Architectural Glass Applications

thickness of laminates in the four point bend test. Strictly, the effective thickness analysis only applies to pure bending of beams and it is important to identify the correct length scale to use in a design calculation (usually the shortest dimension along a bending direction). Despite these restrictions, the approach is a great simplification to the analysis of laminated glass and when properly used, can provide efficient design solutions with minimal computation. Key to the use of this approach is the availability of comprehensive interlayer modulus data and knowledge of the temperature/load duration conditions for the loading actions.

Figure 2 Finite element model of the four point bend test [4].

Figure 3 Details of the model mesh at a loading point

Simulation of Four Point Bend Test Using Finite Elements

We now examine the use of the finite element approach for calculating glass stress and deflection of a laminate beam subjected to four point bend loading. Key to any finite element model is the use of the correct element types, proper definition of the boundary conditions, accurate materials properties and sufficient mesh density. Also, judgment should be used to incorporate the necessary level of geometry and materials detail while minimizing the model size for computational efficiency. Figures 2 and 3 show the finite element model used to simulate the proposed ISO 1288-3 four point bend test. Note, a two dimensional model has been used (plane strain approximation) and one half of the sample and loading/ support is considered due to mirror symmetry. Two dimensional fournode plane strain elements have been used for all materials. All polymers have been modeled using a hybrid element formulation to allow for a material Poisson ratio that approaches 0.5 (incompressible limit). Note also, elements have been formulated using an incompatible mode formulation to prevent element shear locking (a well know issue with simulation of pure bending deformation [4]). The simulations have been repeated with ever increasing mesh density until steady state predictions of the maximum glass stress are attained. This is a key step in any finite element simulation to ensure that mesh sensitivity effects are minimized. The results of finite element simulations and actual experiments are shown in Figure 4. As can be seen, predictions of glass maximum principal stress compare well with values measured using resistance strain gages attached to the glass surface at the laminate beam center. In these simulations, a 1 minute 80 C, SentryGlas shear modulus has been used. Figure 5 shows contours of glass maximum principal stress (note that the model has been reflected across the symmetry plane and extruded
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Figure 4 Comparisons of finite element predictions with measured glass stress in a four point bend test. 5 mm glass / 0.76 mm DuPont SentryGlas / 5 mm glass laminate at 80 C.

Figure 5 Contours of glass maximum principal stress.

along the plane strain direction to aid visualization).

Conclusions
We have demonstrated that the effective thickness and finite element methods are capable approaches for calculating glass stress and deflection behavior of laminated glass under various loading and support conditions. These approaches may be readily incorporated into any rational design process for laminated glass.

References
[1] Bennison, S.J., Jagota, A. & Smith, C.A., (1999) Fracture of Glass/Polyvinyl Butyral (Butacite) Laminates in Biaxial Failure, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 82[7] 1761-70 [2] Bennison, S.J., Smith, C.A., Van Duser, A. and Jagota, A., (2001) Structural Performance of Laminated Safety Glass Made with Stiff Interlayers, proceedings of the seventh international conference on architectural and automotive glass: Glass Processing Days 2001, Tampere (Finland), published by Tamglass Ltd. Oy, Vehmaistenkatu 5, Tampere. [3] Van Duser, A., Jagota, A., Bennison, S.J. (1999) Analysis of Glass/Polyvinyl Butyral (Butacite) Laminates Subjected to Uniform Pressure Journal of Engineering Mechanics, ASCE, 125[4] 435-42 [4] ABAQUS version 6.8, (2009) Simulia, Pawtucket, R.I. 02860 USA. [5] Wlfel, E., (1987) Nachgiebiger Verbund Eine Nherungslsung und deren Anwendungsmglichkeiten. In: Stahlbau 6/1987 pp. 173-180 [6] Calderone, I., Davies, P.S., Bennison, S.J., Huang X., Liu G., Effective Laminate Thickness for the Design of Laminated Glass, proceedings of the eleventh international conference on architectural and automotive glass: Glass Performance Days 2009, Tampere (Finland), published by Tamglass Ltd. Oy, Vehmaistenkatu 5, Tampere.

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