Blast-Resistant Glazing Design: Comparative Evaluation of SDOF P–I Approaches, FEM, and Isogeometric Analysis

  • Andrae, Matthias (University of the Bundeswehr Munich)
  • Kiendl, Josef (University of the Bundeswehr Munich)
  • Gebbeken, Norbert (University of the Bundeswehr Munich)

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Accurately predicting the blast resistance of glazing systems remains a key challenge in the design of protective structures, particularly for fac¸ades and windows in civilian and critical infrastructure. Under blast loading, glass panes exhibit pronounced geometric nonlinearity governed by large deformations, strain-rate-dependent material response, and fracture initiation. Robust yet computationally efficient estimates of resistance limits are therefore essential for both preliminary design and detailed blast assessment. This contribution presents a multi-level computational framework for analyzing monolithic glass panes under blast loading. The study starts from analytically derived pressure–impulse (P–I) curves, which relate peak overpressure and impulse to failure thresholds. These curves are obtained from single-degree-of-freedom plate-response models and provide an efficient tool for rapid assessment of blast scenarios in early-stage design. The analytical P–I predictions are then systematically compared with numerical simulation results. As a reference, finite element models using conventional shell formulations are employed to capture the transient dynamic response under idealized blast loading. Model verification addresses time-integration stability and mesh-density requirements. Building on this, an isogeometric analysis (IGA) approach using shell elements is introduced, and its key requirements are discussed. The IGA formulation enables exact geometric representation and higher continuity across elements, which is expected to be advantageous for modeling the structural response of thin glass panes subjected to impulsive loads. While P–I methods and conventional finite element simulations are well established for blast analysis of glazing, the use of isogeometric shell formulations remains limited. The results of the present study demonstrate that IGA shell elements provide a promising alternative, achieving accuracy comparable to standard FEM. The comparative analysis highlights the advantages and limitations of each modeling level and provides practical guidance for selecting suitable strategies for blast-resistant glazing design.