Behavior of Glass Façades under Impact and Blast Loadings: An Abridged Review

Glass is widely used in building façades, but its vulnerability to damage from windborne debris poses significant risks to nearby residents due to potential glass fragment hazards. The increasing use of glass façades in modern architecture has necessitated a deeper understanding of their performance under various environmental conditions. While glass façades enhance the aesthetic appeal and energy efficiency of buildings, they are susceptible to breakage due to factors like thermal stress, wind loads, impact forces, and extreme weather events like cyclones. This comprehensive review explores the key factors influencing glass breakage, outlines relevant international testing standards, and discusses advanced methods, like finite-element modeling, for assessing and improving glass resilience. FEM analysis, utilizing tools like LS-DYNA, is highlighted for its ability to predict the behavior of laminated glass panels under different stressors, aiding in the design of safer and more durable glass façades. Additionally, the study emphasizes the importance of adapting current standards to address the increasing frequency of extreme weather events due to climate change and the need for the development of new testing methods. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive review of past research conducted on laminated glass subjected to windborne debris and wind loading and proposes a way forward.