Response of laminated architectural glazing subjected to blast loading

Solutions based on the classical small deflection and large deflection plate theories are presented for a rectangular laminated architectural glazing subjected simulated blast loading. The results of the analytical models are compared with a three-dimensional nonlinear dynamic finite element analysis. Most of the recent studies have emphasized the effect of the positive phase of blast loading while determining the structural response. This study shows that for certain laminated glass panel configurations, the negative phase of a blast loading has a significant effect on the dynamic response. In particular, mid-span panel deflection and maximum tensile stress due to negative pressure are almost double the corresponding quantities due to positive blast loading phase. This means that if the glazing does not fail in the positive loading duration, it may do so in the negative loading phase because of higher dynamic stresses during this later phase.