Experimental mechanical analysis of traditional in-service glass windows subjected to dynamic tests and hard body impact

The large use of glass in buildings, and especially the presence of fenestrations and facade systems, represents a potential critical issue for people safety. The brittle nature of glass (with limited elastic deformation and resistance) is often enforced by its use in combination of several secondary components, whose reciprocal interaction and potential damage should be properly assessed. In the case of windows, accordingly, a special care should be spent for glass members but also for the framing system and possible adhesive or mechanical connections. This study aims at exploring the dynamic response and damage sensitivity of traditional glass window systems, based on the experimental derivation of few key material properties and mechanical parameters. To this aim the attention is focused on traditional, in-service windows that belongs to existing residential buildings and are typically sustained by timber frames, through a linear flexible connection. In doing so, major advantage is taken from experimental analysis, both in the static and dynamic field, for whole window assemblies of single components. For comparative purposes, selected window specimens including plastic (PVC) frame members and Insulated Glass Units (IGUs) are also taken into account in the paper. The static characteristics of the windows components are first preliminary derived. The dynamic performance of such a kind of systems is then experimentally explored with the support of modal analysis techniques and hard body impact procedures, including the experimental derivation of stiffness parameters for the frame members and the glass panels. Further assessment of experimental outcomes is finally achieved with the support of Finite Element numerical analyses.