Recent research regarding the load resistance of ceramic enamel glass suggests that it’s strength is less than that of freshly manufactured glass of the same type with no ceramic enamel coating. Based on an evaluation of published research results, the level of strength reduction associated with a particular type of ceramic enamel glass depends primarily on the characteristics of the ceramic enamel coating and the method of application. The degree to which this strength reduction matters depends on the design philosophy that underlies a particular glass performance standard. In the United States, glass design standards incorporate significant strength reductions for various types of glass to account for the fact that the strength of freshly manufactured glass is degraded by in-service exposures, both indoors and outdoors. As such, the question is not whether the strength of ceramic enamel glass is less than that of freshly manufactured glass, but whether the strength of ceramic enamel glass is less than the strength of analogous in-service glass without a coating as presented in the controlling standard. At present, the answer to this question can only be determined through destructive test results for representative specimens. This paper presents the outline of a procedure that was developed and used by the writers to determine the strength of a particular ceramic enamel products. The empirically determined strength can then be compared with the applicable glass strength standard to determine if a strength reduction factor is warranted for the ceramic enamel glass under investigation.
Michael Brackin
A Proposed Method for Predicting the Load Resistance of a Particular Type of Ceramic Enamel Glass
Company: Beason Brackin & Associates, LLC, College Station, TX, USA.
About the speaker:
Michael S. Brackin is a Principal Engineer for Beason Brackin & Associates, LLC. Dr. Brackin is specialized in the field of architectural glass design, roadside safety, and physical security barriers. He has been involved in glass research and testing since 2006 and has concentrated his effort on the development of procedures to predict the performance and load-resistance of double and triple-glazed insulating glass units subjected to various thermal loading conditions. In addition, Dr. Brackin has focused a significant amount of effort on improving understandings of the strength and behavior of ceramic enamel coated glass to both thermal and uniform pressure loads.