Experimental and numerical study on dynamic behavior of laminated glass window under combustible gas explosions

In this paper, full-scale field tests and numerical simulations are used to study the dynamic behaviour and destruction process of the laminated glass windows under combustible gas explosions. The blast overpressure caused by the explosions of combustible gas, the mid-span displacement and damage process of the windows were all documented during the field tests. The results are analyzed and presented in this paper. It is found that the laminated glass windows under blast loads of combustible gas explosions exhibit a characteristic bending failure, which differs from those under high explosives explosions. Numerical model of dynamic behaviour and destruction of laminated glass windows is developed in LS-DYNA and validated by the test results. The factors affecting the resistance of laminated glass windows to explosions of combustible gas are analyzed through numerical simulations. The results show that increasing the thickness of the glass panel and the interlayer, using soft supports and providing sufficient bite depth for the laminated glass window can significantly enhance its capacity to resist combustible gas explosions.