Full‐Scale Experiments for Point‐Fixing Frameless Laminated Glass

An innovative point‐fixing device of laminated glass for frameless glazing has been conceived of, where the polymeric interlayer, slightly extending beyond the edge of the glass plies in the proximity of the borders, is bent at right angle, and directly attached to metal clamps via the lamination process. This technology is made possible by a high‐performance ionoplastic polymer with high elastic moduli, low viscoelasticity, and high glass transition temperature. Here, we record the results of destructive tests on full‐size specimens under pressure loading. During the tests, one or even both of the glass plies of the laminated panels were broken to study their postcritical performance. In all cases, a noteworthy load‐bearing capacity is maintained and sudden collapse is avoided (fail‐safe response) because, remarkably, the point‐fixing devices firmly hold the interlayer even after complete glass breakage. The experimental evidence has been confirmed by a full three‐dimensional (3D) viscoelastic finite‐element‐method modeling.