Comparison of Different Finite Element Models for the Transient Dynamic Analysis of Laminated Glass for Structural Applications

Commercial laminated glass is usually composed of two glass layers and an interlayer of PVB. The viscoelastic behaviour of the PVB layer has to be taken into account when dealing with dynamic loads. This paper shows different Finite Element (FE) models developed to characterize laminated glass. Results are contrasted with data from different reference test cases. First, a quasi-static test is reproduced with a 2d model through a transient analysis. In addition, flexural modes of vibration in a free-free test configuration have been analysed using 2d as well as 3d FE models. Apart from using transient analysis in order to simulate the dynamic behaviour of laminated glass, an iterative procedure has been employed which permits to identify the correct value of the shear modulus of the PVB layer for each mode in an eigenvalue analysis.