Any truth to this re: windshields?

[Dusty Dude]

Flat Windshield glass is more durable?

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[SadRobot]

Flat Windshield glass is more durable?

My 4th windshield in 5 years would strongly disagree with this statement.

 

[AC77]

from a guy who runs body shops, i will say NO ! Flat glass gets hit harder than contoured - aerodynamic glass , they are stronger because of it being rectangle , but when it gets hit with a rock or anything else, its cracks

 

[rohdawg]

 

[Valpo Jeep]

 

[Heimkehr]

Flat Windshield glass is more durable?

I don't know how much credence I'd lend to a tikkytok (or other) reel. The fellow does mention a few soundbites that are easy to agree with, though.

I'm talking about the one you link to, and not the foul-mouthed brat in the preceding post.

No, I wouldn't agree that flat windscreen glass is inherently more durable than is the curved equivalent.

 

[Ratbert]

His justification for it is flat out wrong. That would require manufacturers to have a monopoly on making windshields for their vehicles, which they obviously don't.

I'm thinking that a semi would be significantly less likely to get a broken windshield simply because the windshield is so damn far off the road.

 

[VKSheridan]

Flat glass is easier to make, ship and handle which is good because it’s easier to chip, crack and fog……

 

[PropaneBender]

My 4th windshield in 5 years would strongly disagree with this statement.

I mean demo ranch shot a car windshield with a shotgun and the more slanted/ at an angle the windshield was the less damage the rounds did to to windshield so in conclusion it’s the angle the makes the difference as well as glass shape

 

[dsgrey]

His justification for it is flat out wrong. That would require manufacturers to have a monopoly on making windshields for their vehicles, which they obviously don't.

I'm thinking that a semi would be significantly less likely to get a broken windshield simply because the windshield is so damn far off the road.

My thoughts too based on owning a Miata at one time. It was a nice slanted windshield but being so dang low to the ground, I lost windshields almost as often as a Jeep though it's fault is being too vertical.

 

[Yawnie'sPapa]

I mean demo ranch shot a car windshield with a shotgun and the more slanted/ at an angle the windshield was the less damage the rounds did to to windshield so in conclusion it’s the angle the makes the difference as well as glass shape

People forget that a piece of anything that's say 1/4" thick just for ease of a number, will suffer more if hit at or near a perfect 90 degrees than that same material slanted back because the effective thickness increases with angle, also, not as much energy is absorbed.
Anything hitting at a 90 is stopped - the energy has to go into the windshield to stop the item.
If it's a "glancing blow", the rock or whatever is merely slowed and diverted, less energy ends up in the glass.

That would require manufacturers to have a monopoly on making windshields for their vehicles, which they obviously don't.

How many even make their own windshields at all? Ford years ago sold off their glass works so even they don't actually "make their own".
There are strict rules that any windshield manufacturer must comply with but as long as they meet the criteria, anyone can do it.

It really doesn't take a heck of a lot of searching to see what makes windshield glass - or any glass for that matter - weaker. It's not like it's a new science or anything.


Which has more effective thickness for an item coming at it?

Divert the energy with a glancing blow, or take it all and totally stop the object?

Angles matter.

On the other hand - check out how curved windshields are made, how the curves are put in, how the edges are made and so on........ there's a lot of processes, including involving heat once the windshield is made.

 

[Heimkehr]

I mean demo ranch shot a car windshield with a shotgun and the more slanted/ at an angle the windshield was the less damage the rounds did to to windshield so in conclusion it’s the angle the makes the difference as well as glass shape

Standard-issue click chasing. There's not a whit of scientific rigor from which defensible conclusions could be drawn. I say this as someone who enjoys that channel for what it is: entertainment.

 

[Ratbert]

My thoughts too based on owning a Miata at one time. It was a nice slanted windshield but being so dang low to the ground, I lost windshields almost as often as a Jeep though it's fault is being too vertical.

I loved driving my '99 10th Anniversary Edition Miata almost as much as I love driving my Jeep. Slightly different experience, but still exhilarating.

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