Assessment of existing analytical models for the lateral torsional buckling analysis of PVB and SG laminated glass beams via viscoelastic simulations and experiments

• Lateral-torsional buckling analytical models were compared for 540 glass beams.
• Equivalent thickness formulations for laminated glass beams were checked by means of viscoelastic simulations.
• The effects of shear stiffness estimations were investigated.
• Compared to experiments, in some cases the equivalent thickness approaches provide interesting estimations.
• Adoption of lower glass thickness tolerance limit is recommended though sometimes unconservative.

Due to the large increase of structural glass applications, the lateral torsional buckling behavior of glass beams actually represents a topic of great interest for researchers. Although several analytical models and design approaches exist in literature, various aspects complicate the realistic prediction of their typical out-of-plane response, especially if composed of two (or more) laminated glass sheets. Based on viscoelastic numerical results and predictions of a large experimental campaign of lateral torsional buckling tests performed on PVB and SG beams, the paper investigates the accuracy of existing analytical models in the prediction of the elastic critical load and load-lateral displacement path of these elements.