Experimental Research on Glass- Polycarbonate Beams

A research project at the Institute of Building Construction explores compositebeams made of glass and transparent polycarbonate. These beams consist of oneinner polycarbonate sheet and two outer panes of glass and are bonded by atransparent adhesive. Several experimental tests demonstrated that the glasspolycarbonatebeams can behave in a ductile manner when the load-bearingcapacity is exceeded. Furthermore, a high residual load-bearing capacity aftercomplete glass-breakage exists. On the contrary, typical laminated glass beams failin cases of complete glass breakage despite the PVB-foil used. Tests with thecomposite beams made of glass and polycarbonate were carried out with varyingcross-sections, glass types and loadings. Moreover, the different elongations due totemperature were investigated in climate tests