The Lateral Torsional Buckling Behavior of Laminated Glass Beams

Abstract

In this paper, the lateral torsional buckling (LTB) behavior of multi-layered long-span laminated glass (LG) beams is investigated through full-scale model test and numerical simulation. In the test program, the LG beams consisting of up to four glass plies and spanning 5000[Formula: see text]mm are constructed and tested. The load-displacement curves and development of strain in glass plies are recorded, based on which the deformation and stress state of buckled LG beams are analyzed, and the strength checking criterion is provided. The test results are also used to determine the shape and amplitude of initial imperfection through statistical analysis and to validate a numerical model based on the finite element method (FEM). Parametric analysis based on the FEM model is then conducted to investigate influential factors on the LTB resistance of LG beams, among which the influence of shape and amplitude of initial imperfection is emphasized. For the LTB design of LG beams, the applicability of existing formula to determine the critical buckling moment through effective stiffnesses is evaluated for multi-layered LG beams with the test and numerical results. Finally, the design buckling curves adopting the Ayrton–Perry formula (APF) are proposed and validated for LG beams categorized with glass type and load duration.