A Study on a Windshield Fracture Phenomena Caused by Impact Pressure of Passenger-side Air-bag

Recently, in automobile, air-bag system are usually used. But on the other hand, a lot of safety problems of the air-bag systems for the passengers have been reported. In this study, the fracture behavior of a windshield caudes by impact pressure of a passenger side air-bag with the fracture mechanism are analyzed. Especially the fracture phenomena of plastic interlayer (made with P.V.B.) in the windshield using the barrier test, is analyzed expeimentally. Further more, the effect of pre-crack in glass to the windshield is analyzed. These studies are performed on the symmetrical laminated glass with two same thickness glasses and the asymmetrical laminated glass reducing thickness of inside glass. The obtained results are as follows;

1) When a windshield has pre-crack on the surface, probability of tear in the interlayer increases.

2) 2+1.6 asymmetrical laminated glass is tougher than 2+2 symmetrical one in the situation which has pre-crack on inner glass.

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The Authors

Mr. Toru Takabayashi Senior Engineer Asahi Glass Company Mr. Toru Takabayashi is an engineer in Fabricated Glass General Division Technical Center of Asahi Glass Company. His background is material mechanics, especially fracture mechanics of structural cera... Read more