The aim of this thesis was to develop an experimental and numerical approach for the consistent modelling of polymer adhesives under large deformations and time-dependent loading in structural glass construction. The focus was on silicones used in structural sealant glazing applications and on a comparable polyurethane. For this purpose, uniaxial and equibiaxial material tests were carried out in order to describe the basic elastic response, viscoelastic effects, and damage-related phenomena of the investigated materials. Based on experimental data from material tests, a systematic method for identifying suitable material models was developed. It was shown that simple modelling approaches can describe the main material effects only to a limited extent. Significantly better results were obtained with finite viscoelastic models, which allow a consistent description of the nonlinear, time-dependent material response under different stress states. The validation with test data that were not used for the optimization of the material parameters confirmed that these models can describe the material behaviour of the investigated adhesives with overall reliability. In addition, large-scale component tests were carried out on facade constructions bonded with structural sealant glazing in order to investigate the load-bearing behaviour of coupled glass panes under cyclic shear loading. The tests showed stable and elastic system behaviour over wide loading ranges. Damage-induced changes occurred only at high deformation levels, especially in the form of saw-tooth-like cracks in the horizontal joints. Sudden failure was not observed. Instead, the failure of a complete joint was indicated by progressive crack growth and an increasing drop in force. The identified material models were then transferred to ANSYS as user materials and verified by means of material and component simulations. The simulations resulted in largely numerically stable and consistent solutions and showed good agreement with the experimental results. Thus, this thesis presents a continuous approach for the experimentally supported identification, optimization, validation, and finite element implementation of suitable material models for polymer adhesives in structural glass construction. Furthermore, the more accurate description of the material behaviour under large deformations, including hyperelastic and viscoelastic effects, provides an important basis for a more realistic numerical assessment of bonded facade elements. In particular, material-related uncertainties that are partly considered in existing design approaches by means of general safety factors may be described in a more differentiated way in the future through validated material models. Therefore, this thesis contributes to the further development of numerical verification methods and provides a basis for the future review and possible adaptation of existing safety concepts in structural glass construction.     «

The aim of this thesis was to develop an experimental and numerical approach for the consistent modelling of polymer adhesives under large deformations and time-dependent loading in structural glass construction. The focus was on silicones used in structural sealant glazing applications and on a comparable polyurethane. For this purpose, uniaxial and equibiaxial material tests were carried out in order to describe the basic elastic response, viscoelastic effects, and damage-related phenomena of...     »