Fracture-Resistant Highly Insulating Vacuum Glazing. Vacuum glazing can provide thermal and sound insulation for windows that achieve the benefits of double glazing without the increased thickness by incorporating a vacuum space between two sheets of glass. The gap is maintained by pillars under high compressive stress due to atmospheric pressure. In this project, we will study the effect of pillar designs and materials on the U-value and the mechanical performance of these complex structures. D ....Fracture-Resistant Highly Insulating Vacuum Glazing. Vacuum glazing can provide thermal and sound insulation for windows that achieve the benefits of double glazing without the increased thickness by incorporating a vacuum space between two sheets of glass. The gap is maintained by pillars under high compressive stress due to atmospheric pressure. In this project, we will study the effect of pillar designs and materials on the U-value and the mechanical performance of these complex structures. Detailed simulations and measurements of stress distributions in the pillars, edge seals and glass sheets, under static and dynamic loading conditions, will allow us to develop glazing structures with greatly increased mechanical strength.Read moreRead less