under water viewing glass

huangyhg

under water viewing glass
this involves an underwater viewing glass at a zoo currently under renovation.  the viewing glass will be about 8ft high and other than hydro static pressure, we have concerns with impact from the sea lions. we are not designing this glass but the manufacturer has submitted their calculations and they did not include impact or thermal changes.  anyone know of any guidlines for the design of this kind of structure? i have had no luck at all.
i do not know of any specific guidelines for the design loads.  i have designed a similar situation to your problem.  the project was a shark tank in a new aquarium.  the glazing was set within a concrete tank with concrete piers between the panels.  the manufacturer/glazing designer was most concerned with the hydrostatic forces.  
the thermal stresses would be a concern if the attachment of the sides are restrained.  generally, glazing is set in a "soft seal" that allows for thermal movements.  as far as the sea lion impacts, i would not know how to calculate the force to design for.  
yes, that is similar to what we have here, this is an acrylic window set into concrete piers.  i agree on the thermal movement and have requested the manufacturer verify this. i was thinking it must make a difference if you are housing penguins or killer whales.
maybe look in asme pvho-1 "safety standard for pressure vessels for human occupancy."
they have design criteria for acrylic windows on decompression chambers, bathyscaphes, diving bells etc.  
just two thoughts to consider:
1.  there are a number of manufacturers of large aquariums, call a couple and talk to their designers.  they may have some thoughts on impact forces.
2.  call sea world, they have some massive tanks and perhaps they could direct you to information or designers that have solved the problem.