Estimation of strengths in large annealed glass panels

A new model of the Log-Normal form for predicting the cumulative probabilistic distribution of strength in annealed glass panels is presented in this paper. The proposed model, which is supported by experimental evidences, shares certain features that are common with predictions by the Weibull’s model. However, as the dimension of the panel is above a certain limit, the strength of glass as predicted by the new model is much less sensitive to any further increase in the panel dimension than strength predicted by the Weibull’s model. This has important implications to the engineering design and risk assessments of glass facades in the future. The proposed alternative model was derived from results obtained from Monte Carlo simulations of non-interacting Griffith flaws based on principles of fracture mechanics. As interactions between flaws have been neglected in the analyses presented in the paper, the proposed model is intended to be applicable to glazing panels which contain widely spaced flaws. Results from physical experimentation in support of the simulation model have been presented in the paper.