The effect of interlayer thickness on laminated glass strength

Published experimental data indicate that under certain conditions laminated glass strength equals or exceeds that of monolithic glass of the same nominal thickness. The majority of the experimental testing performed by researchers has been done on laminated glass with an interlayer thickness of 0.030 in. This paper describes tests performed on laminated glass having a 0.090 in. thick interlayer. The results for failure strength and behavior are reported and compared to previous tests on monolithic glass and laminated glass having a 0.030 in. interlayer thickness.

This paper also presents a theoretical, engineering mechanics model that accounts for factors that affect laminated glass behavior. The factors include temperature, thickness of the interlayer, and composition of the interlayer. Both the theoretical model and the new failure strength data indicate that laminated glass strength increases with interlayer thickness and the laminated glass strength decreases as temperature increases.