Methodology to develop design aids of simple supported glass panels based on a probabilistic approach and experimental tests

The use of glass in buildings, as structural element, has spread around the world. The increasing demand requires to conduct analytical and experimental studies to assess the glass structural behavior and its failure strength. This work determines design aids based on the life time prediction model for new annealed glass collected in Mexico, to estimate its strength and maximum deflection, assuming a probability of failure as function of the glass panel's geometry (width, length and thickness) and surface parameters. The glass surface parameters are determined through experimental tests and numerical finite element models. These results allowed the development of a set of design aids for new annealed glass that can be used in the design of glass windows. The study includes the definition of a correction factor that accounts for the effects of changing the elastic modulus on the glass panel strength, as well as an expression to estimate the maximum deflection at the center of the glass panel.