Experimental and analytical assessment of lateral torsional buckling of laminated glass beams

Due to their increasing use in contemporary architecture, the lateral torsional buckling performance of laminated structural glass beams represents a topic of great interest for researchers. Although several analytical models and design approaches have been recently proposed, various aspects complicate the realistic prediction of this phenomenon. Based on experimental results of a large campaign of lateral torsional buckling tests (55 laminated beams), the paper investigates analytically the effects of various mechanical (e.g. the stiffness of interlayer) and geometrical properties (e.g. initial twist, production tolerances) on the typical lateral torsional buckling response of laminated glass beams.

► Lateral torsional buckling tests were performed on 55 3 m-long laminated glass beams.
► Effects of initial twist and tolerances were investigated through analytical comparisons.
► Initial twist could accelerate failure and should therefore be taken into account.
► Adoption of lower glass thickness tolerance limit is recommended though sometimes unconservative.
► Equivalent thickness approach mostly predicts load–displacement buckling paths well.