Mechanical Response and Dissipation of Progressively Fractured Annealed Laminated Glass Elements Under Large Cyclic Displacements

The post-fracture mechanical performance of laminated glass (LG) is a critical factor for structural safety, primarily governed by fragment size and interlayer coupling. In this article, attention is given to the experimental analysis of 2-ply small-scale LG elements in the partially and fully cracked stages. Using a three-point-bending (3PB) setup, annealed (AN) glass specimens are subjected to the fracture of the residual glass layer, followed by a cyclic protocol with large imposed displacements. The study evaluates the impact of several geometrical and mechanical parameters on the observed bending response, including variations of glass thickness (4 mm or 10 mm), interlayer type (EVA or SG), interlayer thickness (0.76 mm or 1.52 mm), and fracture layout. Experimental results are discussed in relation to reference performance limits, such as the intact (SI) and monolithic (SM) schemes. The experimental findings emphasize that a significant residual mechanical capacity can be maintained even after prolonged cyclic loading, providing key insights for the design of LG components.