Evacuated Glazing

Vacuum glazing consists of two plane sheets of glass separated by a very narrow evacuated space with a hermetic seal around the edges. The collapse of the two glass sheets under atmospheric pressure is prevented by an array of small support pillars placed in the evacuated space. Being thin enough to fit into window frames for single glass panes and having insulating properties equivalent to double glazing, it fills an important niche in the Japanese retrofit market for energy efficiency building upgrades. The Japanese based manufacturer, Nippon Sheet Glass (NSG), is a close collaborator on this project.

We carry out fundamental studies of the mechanical processes that occur in the structure of a vacuum glazing. Experimental investigations of the response to stress are combined with theoretical and computational models, enabling us to identify specific design features which optimise the mechanical robustness of the structure.