NONLACERATING GLASS WINDSHIELDS-A NEW IMPROVED APPROACH

Abstract

THIS STUDY IS PART OF A RESEARCH PROGRAM WHICH AIMS TO DEVELOP A LAMINATED GLASS WINDSHIELD WHOSE LACERATION POTENTIAL IS VERY WEAK AND EVEN ALMOST NONEXISTENT. TWO TYPES OF NEW SAFETY WINDSHIELDS ARE TESTED. THEY DIFFER ONLY BY THE STRENGTHENING LEVEL OF THE V. H. R..GLASS WHICH IS USED. IN BOTH CASES, THE VERY THIN 0.050 IN. (1.2 MM) THICK INNER SHEET AND THE 0.110 IN. (2.8 MM) THICK OUTER SHEET ARE MADE OF V. H. R. GLASS. NEVERTHELESS, THE GLASS OF THE OUTER PLY HAS A DELIBERATELY LIMITED TENSILE STRENGTH. THE POLYVINYLBUTYRAL PLASTIC INTERLAYER IS 0.030 IN (0.76 MM) THICK. THE EVALUATION OF THE BIOMECHANICAL BEHAVIOR OF THESE WINDSHIELDS IS MADE IN DIFFERENT WAYS, AMONG THEM A LABORATORY STUDY WHICH INCLUDES IMPACT TESTS WITH A HEADFORM FREE FALLING ON POSITIONED SAMPLES. THE EXPERIMENTAL PARAMETERS PARTICULARLY STUDIED ARE: TEMPERATURE, IMPACT VELOCITY, IMPACT LOCATION, INCREASE OF THE MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF THE SHEETS. /SAE/