Journal Published Online: 19 December 2008
Volume 6, Issue 2

Evaluation of Silicone Sealants at High Movement Rates Relevant to Bomb Mitigating Window and Curtainwall Design

CODEN: JAIOAD

Abstract

Silicone sealants have a long history of successful use in high performance windows and curtainwalls, such as structural glazing systems. With the recent threat of terrorist attacks, there has been an increased use of windows designed to mitigate the impact of bomb blasts. Due to the high strength and durability characteristics of silicone sealants, structural silicone sealants have been utilized in new bomb blast mitigating window designs. Effective bomb blast mitigating window designs allow the window system to withstand a moderate bomb blast without causing significant injury to building occupants from the blast itself or flying glass shards. The occupants are protected because laminated or filmed glass, which can withstand the blast, is attached in the framing with a silicone sealant. Silicone sealants provide unique benefits to these window designs due to their strength properties and their ability to anchor the laminated glass in the framing during a blast situation. In this paper, three commercially available high strength structural silicone sealants are evaluated at applied load velocities (movement rates) up to 5.0 m/s. These elevated load velocities are intended to simulate loads encountered during a bomb blast. Sealant joints are fabricated to evaluate the sealant in tension, shear, and combined tension and shear loads. Sealants joints are also exposed to accelerated weathering (heat, water, and artificial light through glass). Results show that the sealant strength values increase substantially at elevated rates of applied load. The paper discusses the effect of joint configuration, load velocities, and accelerating weathering on the performance and durability of the silicone sealants tested.

Author Information

Yarosh, Kenneth
Dow Corning Corporation, Midland, MI
Wolf, Andreas
Dow Corning GmbH, Wiesbaden, Hessia, Germany
Sitte, Sigurd
Dow Corning GmbH, Wiesbaden, Hessia, Germany
Pages: 17
Price: $25.00
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Details
Stock #: JAI101953
ISSN: 1546-962X
DOI: 10.1520/JAI101953