A novel design concept for connections in glass: structural Integrity of glass reinforced with externally–bonded GFRP laminates

The paper reports experimental results of the load response and failure behaviour of open-hole annealed glass tensile test specimens reinforced with adhesively-bonded GFRP laminates. The results show that the bonded GFRP has potential to strengthen stress concentration features in glass by either arresting the cracks developed in the critical zone or eliminating the failure from the vicinity of the critical area. It is anticipated that the findings of this research could be effectively used to develop reinforcement strategies for critical joints in glass structures.