Experiments on the Dynamic Behavior of Curved Glass Panes Subjected to Low-Velocity Impact

Abstract

Curved glass enables designers to achieve unparalleled innovation in creating modern and undulating shapes for building enclosures. However, the curvature of panes changes the static and especially the dynamic behavior of the panes under loading. Studies on low-velocity impacts on curved glass have been limited and have primarily involved numerical studies. This paper experimentally investigates the dynamic response of cylindrically curved glass panes under a low-velocity impact. A flat, 5 mm thick, single-pane geometry with three curvature radii and the lack or presence of movement restraint is considered. Special attention is also paid to the variations caused by impacting bodies involving different stiffness, mass, and geometry parameters. It was found that flat plates have a lower capacity to dampen oscillations, resulting in longer decay times compared to curved panes. For impactors with a lower stiffness, the glass panes experience uneven oscillations at the moment of impact, followed by a chaotic period of transient vibrations before reaching a stationary state. This contrasts bodies with greater deformability in which the main dynamic behavior follows a more predictable pattern.