Effects of manufacturing inhomogeneities on strength properties of float glass

This study deals with a statistically defined mechanical effect of the inhomogeneities remaining in structural glass plates after the manufacturing by floating process. Our goal was to define a stress limit that will not be exceeded with a 95% probability. We used Monte Carlo simulation to calculate the stress peaks that appear in structural glass.First we made micro-CT images of the inhomogeneities to describe the precise geometry. Then we used analytical Eshelby solution and finite element method to calculate the stress fields around an ellipsoidal inclusion. Knowing the statistical distribution of the inhomogeneities we built a MATLAB simulation, which was used to calculate the factoring coefficient, representing statistically relevant stress peaks. With this model we were able to define a size effect coefficient allowing us to propose simple guidelines to minimise the effect of the remaining defects.

► Mechanical effect of mesoscopic defects was investigated.
► We described the geometries of inhomogeneities using micro-CT.
► Statistical method was used to homogenise the stress peaks.
► A factoring coefficient was defined to describe the mechanical effect.
► Using the coefficient we proposed simple guidelines to minimise the effect.