The mechanical performance of laminated hybrid-glass units

Conventional laminated glass has a relatively low post-fracture strength and stiffness, which imposes several constraints on the structural use of glass in buildings. This paper proposes a new generation of laminated hybrid-glass units, built-up from plies of chemically strengthened glass, conventional polymer interlayers and heat treated/annealed glass, that aim to outperform conventional laminated glass units. The paper describes the experimental investigations on the novel laminated hybrid-glass units subjected to quasi-static out-of-plane loads and presents the corresponding analytical models developed to characterise the load–deflection response of the units, both in the unfractured and post-fractured states. The experimental data shows that laminated hybrid-glass units can achieve significant post-fracture stiffness and their post-fracture strength can equal or exceed the strength at first fracture. The analytical models are successfully validated and the equivalent shear modulus approach developed in this paper facilitates future numerical analysis and optimisation of these units.