Nonlinear dynamic response of rectangular glass plates subject to fluctuating wind loads

It is a common practice to analyze and design window glass units using an equivalent static wind pressure. Little is known with regard to the dynamic behavior of window glass units subjected to a fluctuating wind pressure. Here, a mathematical model is developed to determine this dynamic behavior. Also, it is well known that the strength of a glass plate is related to the magnitude and duration of the nominal tensile stress due to cyclic or randomly distributed loads such as fluctuating wind pressure. In this research, a random fluctuating wind pressure is simulated using the well known Davenport spectrum for wind velocity and Vaicaitis expression for generating discrete wind velocity-time data. Since the glass plate might undergo large displacements, the dynamic nonlinear von Karman plate equations are used. The dynamic finite difference model developed by Vallabhan and Selvam is modified to consider the response due to a random fluctuating wind pressure. Time dependent displacement, velocity, and maximum tensile principal stress in a vibrating glass plate are the outcome of this analysis.