Adhesives are widely used for connections in structural glass, photovoltaic units and façade applications. Bonded glass connections are often exposed to dynamic and long-term static loading. The mechanical behaviour of polymeric materials like adhesives is to some degree time-, temperature- and frequency-dependent. A comprehensive description of the complex material behaviour requires in-depth experimental analysis.

Based on a preliminary test program, different adhesive systems that are suitable for glazing applications were selected for a dynamic test sequence. A range of specimens of the bulk material were examined under uni-axial cyclic loading by varying the amplitudes and frequencies in order to obtain data for an improved material characterization. Creep effects under dynamic loading were assessed since alterations of the polymeric structure and internal degradation may lead to irreversible deformations and initiate failures. Additionally, heat development may occur for thermoplastic adhesives due to the dynamic loading which also influences the material behaviour. Therefore, the thermal behaviour during the examination was observed by a thermographic camera.