Glass curtain wall and anchorage system response under blast loading

[EMBARGOED UNTIL 08/01/2025] Extreme events, such as blasts, pose a severe threat to a building's structural integrity. The building envelope serves as the primary defense against external explosions. Blast hazards continue to pose a threat to occupant safety. To address such problems, research and development of blast-resistant materials and structures continue to be a critical need. In addition, the development of engineering analysis and design methodologies is necessary; that can be used to create a set of minimum standards to be incorporated into all construction. Glass curtain walls (CW), widely used in administrative and commercial buildings, offer an aesthetic and lightweight solution. They transfer lateral loads to the main structure, comprised of vertical and horizontal aluminum mullions. Laminated glass (LG) is secured using rubber gasket glazing, consisting of multiple glass panes with polymer interlayers. This research focuses on developing recommendations for response prediction of laminated glass CW systems and their improved design under blast loading. It employs both numerical and experimental analyses of CW materials, components, anchorage systems, and the entire structure to predict their performance under blast loads. An extensive experimental investigation was conducted on seven different cured and uncured polymeric LG interlayers to evaluate their quasi-static and dynamic responses. The study assessed the performance of Polyvinyl Butyral (PVB), Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), and SentryGlas [registered trademark symbol] (SG) from two suppliers, as well as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), under varying temperatures. Additionally, it evaluated the static resistance function of LG panels using a full-scale water chamber and developed finite element (FE) numerical models to predict their dynamic responses, which were verified using field experiments. The validated numerical models will be used to examine the effects of different design parameters. Furthermore, an experimental program was developed to assess the quasi-static response of full-scale CW mullions. These tests were conducted on both conventional and improved design specimens, as well as mullions utilizing various substrates, using a 16-point loading tree. For the entire CW system, quasi-static vacuum chamber testing was performed on full-scale CW systems. Using a vacuum chamber, quasi-static loading was applied to these systems until failure, including both conventional and improved designs. Numerical models were developed and validated using experimental data to predict the response of CW systems under quasi-static loading. The results of this study can be used to enhance existing methods for predicting the dynamic response of CW systems under blast conditions and to provide cost-effective design recommendations.