Investigations on the glass-pillar contact interaction in vacuum insulated glazing
Bachelor thesis, Master thesis
Vacuum insulated glazing is a highly energy efficient glazing system. Yet, its setup (more precisely the array of support pillars necessary to withstand the high loads of atmospheric pressure (10 tonnes/m2)) evokes complex stress distributions and high stress gradients locally. This can result in the formation of so-called cone cracks which can develop into through-thickness cracks and can thus lead to catastrophic failure of these glazing units. In the design of VIGs it is typically assumed that the glass-pillar contact is not of concern if the separation of pillars is limited. Yet, investiga- tions of various VIGs show that cracks occur anyway and failure can originate at a pillar.
Comment
A literature review shall be performed to present the state of the art (including scientific literature, Standards and Codes).
Further topics that can be the focus of the thesis:
- Development of experimental test setups (on the basis of existing machines at the ismd and the mpa Darmstadt) to investigate the crack propagation in the vicinity of the glass-pillar contact zone.
- Identification of parameters impacting the ultimate strength of vacuum insulated glazing
- Development of numerical models to approach the glass-pillar interaction in vacuum insulated glazing
