Experimental and Numerical Study on Falling-Ball Impact Behavior of Single Tempered Glass

To investigate the dynamic response and failure mechanism of tempered glass subjected to falling-ball impact, a controlled falling-ball impact experimental platform was established. Strain gauges were arranged at multiple locations on the glass surface to capture the transient strain responses under different impact conditions. Based on the experimental setup, a finite element model of tempered glass was developed using Abaqus to simulate the impact process and stress-wave propagation behavior. The experimental results show that falling-ball impact induces pronounced transient strain responses in tempered glass, with strain amplitudes decreasing as the distance from the impact center increases. The strain responses also exhibit clear vibration attenuation characteristics due to energy dissipation and boundary effects. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental strain–time history curves in terms of peak strain, temporal evolution, and attenuation trends, confirming the reliability of the numerical model. Further analysis indicates that stress waves generated at the impact point propagate radially within the glass plate and undergo reflection and superposition at the boundaries, leading to localized stress amplification. When the impact energy exceeds a critical threshold, the induced stress surpasses the strength limit of tempered glass, resulting in structural failure. The findings provide theoretical and experimental support for the impact-resistant design and safety assessment of tempered glass.