Experimental study of the dynamic response of PVB laminated glass under vented explosion loads of methane–air mixtures

Abstract Glass curtain walls are widely used in modern architectural design, the majority, of which are built using laminated glass. Shattering of these glass walls during natural gas explosions caused by accidental leakages create hazardous glass shards. This work therefore experimentally investigates the dynamic response of laminated glass during a gas explosion by varying the methane concentration, vent closure material, glass layer thickness, and PVB interlayer thickness. The results indicate that the closer the gas concentration is to 9.5%. The use of a stiffer venting material venting also caused a greater displacement of the glass, thus decreasing its resiliency. The PVB interlayer can bond the glass fragments together to restrain the flying effect. Furthermore, increasing the thickness of the glass, and PVB clamp layers improved the ability of the specimen to resist the gas explosion loads. These test results provide a reference for the design of explosion-resistant laminated glass design and accident prevention.