LOAD CAPACITIES OF GLASS PANELS

60 s load capacities are estimated for glass cladding panels of aspect ratios less than or equal to four. The estimation procedure requires the characterization of the initial strength of the panel in probabilistic terms. The traditional two parameter and recent ring-on-ring based three parameter Weibull distributions are employed for the initial strength. It is shown that load capacities based on the three parameter distribution provide a closer estimate to published results for new glass than those based upon the traditional two parameter distribution. Preliminary results suggest that the lower bound pressure estimated in the Weibull model may be an appropriate load capacity for new glass.