Author(s)

C. Davis, K. Marchand, P. Votruba-Drzal, E. Conrath, T. Sailock & W. Siskos

Abstract

Protection Engineering Consultants (PEC), in cooperation with PPG Industries, Inc., is investigating the performance of a new glass technology for antiterrorism/ force protection (ATFP) applications. This new PPG glass product is significantly stronger than typical fully tempered glass, which is advantageous in impact, ballistic, and blast resistant window design. This paper compares the performance of this new glass technology, known as Herculite® XP glazing, to that of traditional (annealed and fully-tempered) glazing subjected to blast loads. The performance of the Herculite® XP glazing is based on results from a series of static tests and a large-scale blast test on eight windows. The results of the static and dynamic tests are briefly discussed. A brief discussion is also included on the use of a statistical fracture based glass strength model called the Glass Failure Prediction Model (GFPM) that was used to develop Herculite® XP resistance functions employed in single-degree-of-freedom (SDOF) blast response models. Keywords: glass technology, blast testing, window design, SDOF analysis. 1 Introduction Protection Engineering Consultants (PEC) and PPG Industries, Inc. are investigating the performance of Herculite® XP glass, a new glass technology that is stronger than typical fully tempered (FT) glass, for anti-terrorism/force protection (ATFP) applications. To evaluate the performance of Herculite® XP glazing subjected to blast loads, a single large-scale blast test on eight specimens was conducted at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) at Tyndall Air www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3509 (on-line) WIT Transactions on The Built Environment, Vol 113, © 2010 WIT Press Structures Under Shock and Impact XI 195 doi:

Keywords

glass technology, blast testing, window design, SDOF analysis