- Author
- Norville, H. S.
- Title
- Tests of Blast Resistant Windows With Dupont Spallshield Composite.
- Coporate
- Texas Tech Univ., Lubbock
- Keywords
- glazing materials | windows | blasts | composite materials | glass | tests
- Abstract
- This report describes blast tests of blast resistant windows. Three different glazing constructions were tested. Each glazing construction was mounted to specially designed steel frames using structural silicone sealants. The glazing constructions tested were: annealed laminated glass, annealed monolithic glass with SpallShield Composite, and annealed laminated glass with SpallShield composite. The following observations were drawn from the tests: 1. SpallShield Composite used in conjunction with annealed monolithic glass or with annealed laminated glass having 1/4 in. nominal thickness constitutes an effective blast resistant glazing material when the glazing and SpallShield are securely attached to a properly designed frame. 2. The performance of SpallShield Composite in eliminating glass spall under blast loading after fracture is superior to that of laminated glass under blast loading. 3. The test specimens, i.e., the systems comprised of the glazing materials and their mounting frames, used in this program did not constitute adequate blast resistant windows. In each test, openings and tears occurred in proximity to the silicone bead that attached the glazing materials to the steel frames. The openings and tears were believed the result of two factors. First, the steel frame and silicone anchor bead comprised a very stiff system that would absorb little energy. In addition, the silicone beads were not fully adhered to the glazing in all test speciments. The remaining chapters describe the conduct of the tests, their results, and the conclusions drawn.