Exploratory numerical analysis of SG-laminated reinforced glass beam experiments

•Numerical investigations are performed on SentryGlas®(SG)-laminated reinforced glass beams.•Preliminary 2D “monolithic” models are used to assess the effects of various mechanical/geometrical properties.•Steel reinforcement generally provides large post-cracked strength and ductility to glass beams.•Good correlation is found between 2D simplified models and more accurate 3D models.•Accuracy of FE-models is emphasized by agreement with experiments and analytical estimations.

The paper focuses on the numerical investigation of SentryGlas®(SG)-laminated reinforced glass beams. This structural typology, rather innovative and currently under investigation, consists of a composite section in which the typical brittle behaviour of glass is overcome by means of stainless steel sections able to provide significant post-cracked residual strength and ductility. In these beams, coupling and interaction between the components is provided by thermoplastic SG-foils – having typical viscoelastic mechanical behaviour – able to bond together a brittle material (glass) with a ductile and high tension resistant material (steel). Based on earlier studies, exploratory numerical investigations are performed in the current study by means of several 2D and 3D FE-models. Large series of parametric studies are discussed, in order to highlight the influence of various geometrical and mechanical parameters, such as mesh size and pattern, glass cracking or shear stiffness of SG-foils. Modelling assumptions and simplifications presented in this work are validated and assessed also to analytical calculations of formulations derived from literature. As shown, although further extended studies and advanced numerical developments are required, interesting numerical predictions are found for the examined beams.