Structural behavior of architectural laminated glass

Experimental and theoretical investigations conducted over a 20-year time period by several investigators provide sufficient data and information to define, for practical engineering purposes, the behavior of architectural laminated glass under lateral pressures. Investigations included definitions of material properties, theoretical stress analyses, experimental stress analyses, and destructive tests involving monolithic, laminated, and “layered” glass plates of several geometries. The preponderance of data and information indicate that: (1) Architectural laminated glass behaves in a manner similar to monolithic glass of the same nominal thickness under short-term lateral pressures (representative of wind loads) at and below room temperature; (2) the temperature at which behavior changes from being similar to monolithic to significantly different from monolithic under short-term lateral pressures is not clearly defined, but is around 49°C (120°F); and (3) architectural laminated glass behaves in a manner similar to monolithic glass of the same nominal thickness under long-term lateral pressures (representative of snow loads) at temperatures of 0°C (32°F) and below.