PRÜFgbGLAS - Bending tensile strength testing of thermally curved glass

Objectives and work programme

Thermally curved glass is an unregulated construction material that requires special evidence to be provided before use. This evidence (general construction approval, individual case approval, and European Technical Approvals) includes information on the strength of the material for assessment, which must be determined with respect to the brittle material properties of glass in comparison with other, more ductile construction materials. There is no standardised testing process in place for curved glass. A testing process of this nature would form the basis for comparing products under the same conditions, and would be a requirement for potential standardisation of the product. We can therefore assume that there is no standardised safety level at this time.

Past research activities have shown that the basic method for bending strength testing according to the four-point bending process (DIN EN 1288-3) could also be applied to curved glass. To achieve this, the test facility must be altered and the simplified evaluation process that has proven effective with flat glass must be adapted with respect to the non-linear effects with cylindrically curved glass.

The objective of the PRÜFgbGLAS research project is to establish the scientific basis for standardising a process to determine the bending tensile strength of thermally curved glass as a precursor to a creating a standard.

Partners

Polartherm GmbH,
HERO Glas-Veredelungs GmbH,
Finiglas Veredelungs GmbH,
Flintermann Glasveredelungs GmbH
Bundesverband Flachglas e.V.
Fachverband Konstruktiver Glasbau e.V.