A mathematical model for the behavior of laminated uniformly curved glass beams

Laminated curved glasses as widely used elements in buildings urge to develop a mathematical model for their analysis and safer design. Large deflection theory is necessary in order to predict the true behavior of a laminated curved glass beam consisting of several glass layers bonded by soft interlayer PVB (PolyVinyl Butyral). In the present study, a mathematical model is developed for the analysis of a laminated circular arch or a laminated uniformly curved glass beam which is the special case of the laminated curved glass beams. Thus, three nonlinear, coupled partial differential equations governing the true behavior are derived in polar coordinates by applying variational and energy principles. Results of this model are compared with the results from the experiments and finite element model, and all of them are presented in figures to explain the true behavior.