I doubt as a structural Engineer that tape will prevent the glass from=20
cracking, but if the tape has significant tension strength, it probably=20
will help keep large pieces of glass from departing the area, but as=20
mentioned pealing with a zipper action could occur. There is now, a=20
plastic film that can be either applied to the glass surface or in=20
laminated glass like a car windshield to contain the broken glass pieces.

The several structural failure of glass and it's framing that I have=20
been involved with. all the broken glass pieces were on the build in=20
exterior, and aluminum framing bent toward the outside. A common failure=20
is the fasteners of the aluminum to the building structure were not=20
strong enough.

In building design, the corners edges of the building locally require=20
higher design forces. A common large area wind force in a non-hurricane=20
are is of the range 20 - 30 PSF.

On 2/7/2011 6:09 AM, apptech wrote:
>> 1. I noticed that some (and I've seen this in the US as well) were tapin=
g
>> the outside of their windows. I posed this question at work today (and w=
as
>> informed I know nothing mate), surely it would be better to tape the
>> inside
>> of the glass instead of the outside or preferably both sides?
>>     =20
> AFAIK tornados suck.
> (Maybe the RAF ones do differently but they are less common overall).
>
> I understand that openiong all windows and doors may increase tornado
> resistance. Probably also draftier in the interim :-).
>
> Maybe opening all doors and windows and taping plastic sheeting in place
> with a minimal resistance to pressure, would approximate best of both
> worlds.
>
> Force on a 2 foot x 3 foot window (olde units) with 1 psi diffrerential i=
s
> about 850 lbf. Intuition says that most at-hand plastic film would leave =
the
> building before then. Intuition has been known to be wrong. Calculation m=
ay
> help but someone else wioll have to do it.
>
> However, the linear peel pull on the tape around the edges (if pressure w=
as
> linearly spread is about 7 lbf per inch. Some tape would hold that. It wo=
uld
> be interesting to see where the tape peel, sheet rip crossover point was =
for
> various apertures and materials.
>
>    Russell
>
>   =20
--=20
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