Assessment of frame sealant property to module glass breakage via beam mechanics theory

We report a preliminary study on the impact of sealant stiffness on the stress at the edges of laminates in framed photovoltaic (PV) modules. The study relies on a theoretical analysis using static mechanics beam theory to understand the stress distribution in glass panels under various fixation conditions. The findings suggest that frame sealant stiffness influences the stress at the laminated glass edges through the degree of edge fixation, with stress tending to be higher when a higher modulus frame sealant is used. The type of sealant might therefore potentially be a contributing factor to the glass breakages observed in large area glass-glass modules.