Experimental behavior of structurally glazed insulating glass units

Structural glazing has become a popular method for finishing building exteriors in recent years. Structural glazing is a system of bonding glass, stone, or other materials to the structural frame of a building using structural silicones. Twenty-five to 40 percent of all new commercial glazing is structural glazing. More complex structural glazing systems use insulating glass (IG) units with structural silicone applied to all sides. No mechanical fasteners exist to hold the IG units in place. This design poses several interesting problems for engineers.

Researchers at Texas Tech University conducted tests on eight structurally glazed IG unit samples. The National Science Foundation and several members of industry sponsored the research. These eight structurally glazed IG unit samples underwent applied simulated wind pressures on one or both sides. Instruments measured changes in structural seal and IG seal shapes. This dissertation defines changes in structural seal and IG seal shapes as the samples deform under pressure. This dissertation also discusses the behavior of these eight structurally glazed IG unit samples.