Gas interaction in insulating glass units in the case of elastic support of component glass panes

Abstract Insulating glass units (IGUs), commonly used for filling windows and glass facades, have in their construction a tight gas-filled gap. This determines the good thermal insulation of the IGU, but at the same time makes it sensitive to climatic loads (changes in atmospheric pressure, temperature, wind load etc.). In the IGU gas interaction calculation models, these loads are usually simply supported at the connection of the component panes with the edge spacer. Under real conditions, another type of connection is possible, which was the subject of interest by several researchers. In this article, on the basis of the general theory of plates, an analytical model of the resultant load and deflection of IGUs under climatic loads is proposed, taking into account elastic support of the component panes. The computational examples illustrates the influence of connection stiffness on the resultant climatic load and deflection in IGUs.