This book presents the comprehensive results of experimental and
numerical investigations of glass façade breakage behavior under fire
conditions. First of all, full-scale frame and point-supported glass
façades, incorporating single, double and coated glazing, were tested
under pool fire conductions. The results determined the effects of
different glass frames, types of glass, and thermal shocks on breakage
behavior. Small-scale tests, using the Material Testing System (MTS)
810, Netzsch Dilatometer and FE-SEM, were also performed at different
temperatures to determine the basic mechanical properties of glazing.
In addition, a three-dimensional dynamic model was developed to predict
stress distribution, crack initiation and propagation, and has since
been employed to identify the breakage mechanisms of different types of
glass façade. The numerical results showed very good agreement with the
experimental results and verified the model's ability to accurately
predict breakage. Lastly, a theoretical model based on incident heat
flux was developed to predict the breakage time and heat transfer in
glazing, which served to reveal the nature of interactions between fire
and glass.