Lateral-Torsional Buckling of Laminated Structural Glass Beams. Experimental Study

This paper deals with experimental research of stability behaviour of laminated structural glass beams. The purpose of the research is the evaluation of lateral-torsional buckling resistance and actual behaviour of the beams due to absence of standards for design of glass load-bearing structures. The experimental research follows the previous one focusing on measuring of initial geometrical imperfections of glass members and experimental evaluation of flexural buckling resistance of structural glass columns.Within the frame of the research 9 specimens were tested. All of them were of the same dimensions - length 2400 mm and width 280 mm but different thicknesses - 12, 16, 20 mm. All the beams were composed of two annealed glass panes bonded together by PVB foil. Beams were loaded by couple of forces symmetrically situated to the mid-span and supports complied with fork boundary conditions. Specimens were loaded by constantly increasing force up to failure. During testing lateral deflection, vertical deflection, angle of torsion and normal stresses at mid-span were measured. Maximum bending moment achieved during testing has been adopted as lateral-torsional buckling resistance. From these values were calculated characteristics and design values according to the EN 1990.Experiment results were compared with lateral torsional buckling resistance calculated according to the buckling curves approach.