Toughened Glass: Mechanical Properties and EN 12600 Behaviour

Michel Dubru, Glaverbel S.A.
Jean-Clement Nugue, Saint-Gobain
Guy Van Marcke de Lummen, Glaverbel S.A.

Thermally toughened safety glass is a glass product offering first order mechanical characteristic. It is the only glass construction product exhibiting well-established and reliable mechanical capacity under static and dynamic load with resistance to impact properties conforming to regulations and European standards. The aim of this paper is to re-establish on an experimental basis as a matter of fact that this product is today an undeniable construction product.

It will be demonstrated in this paper by use of two main axes: 1.) Experimental data from a GEPVP (European Association of Flat Glass Manufacturers study on heat treated and thermally toughened glass that correlated fragmentation, mechanical resistance, impact resistance and surface compression. 2.) Numerical simulation validated by impact data, following EN 12600, showing coherence with experimentation

Experimental data set contains more than 1000 measurements or impact data on several glass thicknesses and degrees of toughening, i.e. surface compression level. Outstanding advantage of this method is to show for each product type and test method, minimal level of surface compression to obtain a reliable (or reproducible) level of performance (fragmentation, mechanical resistance) or classification (impact according EN 12600).

A final conclusion is that during production surface compression is the key control parameter to manage. It remains true when toughened glass behaviour has to be rigorously interpreted.

Full-Text Article [508 KB]

The Authors

	Mr. Michel Dubru Glaverbel Read more
	Mr. jean-clément nugue Development manager saint-gobain glass Read more
	Guy van Marcke de Lummen Read more