Glass Failure Prediction Model

Abstract

There are significant differences in glass strength information presented by major United States glass manufacturers. These differences have caused considerable confusion among glass designers. The differences are the result of different simplifying assumptions in formulation of the respective glass design procedures. Presented in this paper is a glass failure prediction model which relates the probability of failure of glass to surface flaw characteristics and induced stresses. This is accomplished by combining a statistical failure theory for brittle materials with results of a geometrically nonlinear plate analysis. The model is formulated to include all factors which are known to significantly affect the strength of glass, such as load duration, surface area, etc. As such the model provides a basis for resolving current conflicts in the glass design process.