Strike Speed = Glass Thickness

[Steff-T]

I'm thinking on running some numbers to see what glass thickness i may need for the front of an enclosure (I know this has been discussed at length in other threads). I'm planning of attacking this question a different way. If I assume the weight of an average adult SWCarpet Python, have the approximate strike speed of a snake, and assume the snake strikes with about 2/3 of its mass... then I can figure out the thickness of glass needed.

All I need are some numbers to start with. As I don't have a SW Carpet yet, and I have never measured the strike velocity of a snake (and have not been able to track down any tests on this yet), I was wondering if anyone has some numbers I could use. Approximate will do... I'll post my results.

[Steff-T]

One way to kill the usefulness of my idea is to tell me that the strike of a snake against the glass will never be as bad as .... ? I figure there's no constant water pressure like in an aquarium... so what else could load up the front glass. A person leaning against it? Any more ideas?

[chloethepython]

maybe a snake stretching and pushing against the glass

[MoreliaMatt]

never had a problem with my 5mm

[Chrisreptile]

I use 6mm and it does the job well.

[antaresia_boy]

i have 6mm with nor problem...then again i only have a 40cm childreni

[saratoga]

I've "heard" that Mantid shrimps can break glass in aquariums with the power and speed of their strike.

I used to use 5 and 6mm glass when I was keeping.

Of course it not only depends on the speed and force of the strike but also on the size(area) of the glass. Bigger cages will need thicker glass regardless of the snake you are keeping.

I wouldn't want any snakes striking at the glass. If a snake is doing this its best to keep the glass covered so as not to continually scare the animal. It might look impressive to show people but its no good for the snake!

[-Peter]

Originally Posted by saratoga

I wouldn't want any snakes striking at the glass. If a snake is doing this its best to keep the glass covered so as not to continually scare the animal. It might look impressive to show people but its no good for the snake!

says it all really.

[cris]

Interesting, how do you plan on calculating this? to me it would seem like a nightmare trying to get any sort of usable result. If you did work it out you would most likely end up with glass that is too thin to be practical, just go something normal like 5 or 6mm.

[Fester]

Originally Posted by saratoga

I wouldn't want any snakes striking at the glass. If a snake is doing this its best to keep the glass covered so as not to continually scare the animal. It might look impressive to show people but its no good for the snake!

Nothing to do with scareing my female SA Woma & my Blackheads! Feeding time = psycho time! Bash away at the glass to get at those rats!

[Fuscus]

I've seen tiapans and Yellow anacondas keep behind 3mm glass in a commercial environment. But i'm not recommending it.

[bundybear]

WOW Steff, you've got too much time on your hands
For curiosities sake, figures would be good to see, but I wouldn't be too concerned about a breakage if your using 5-6mm glass.
A mate has two 9ft olives that frequently strike at the 6mm glass when he go's to open up the enclosures.........no breakages so far
be sure to post the workings and results if you get around to doing the math.

[The Devil]

WOW, talk about trying to make things complicated. Another thing you will have include in your "calculations" is the size of the glass panel.

The bigger the panel the more flex there is in the glass and so it will break at a lower impact. Also are you going to have a fixed pane as in an opening door or will the glass be in sliding tracks.
Now if the glass is going into tracks the small gap between the glass and the inside track will have to be factored in.
Now just to complicate things further, will the glass be perfectly "clean" or might there be some small scratches in it.

A quick tip for you.... go with the flow and use 4 or 5mm float glass. If you are really concerned how about 5mm laminated.

I've only ever used 4mm float glass and never had a problem.

[bundybear]

Originally Posted by saratoga

I've "heard" that Mantid shrimps can break glass in aquariums with the power and speed of their strike.

I used to use 5 and 6mm glass when I was keeping.

Of course it not only depends on the speed and force of the strike but also on the size(area) of the glass. Bigger cages will need thicker glass regardless of the snake you are keeping.

I wouldn't want any snakes striking at the glass. If a snake is doing this its best to keep the glass covered so as not to continually scare the animal. It might look impressive to show people but its no good for the snake!

if that is true, I would suggest it has more to do with the combination of force and the fact that the force is being released through a small area.
for example (figures are examples only), if you were to hit a sheet of glass with a nail pretruding from a peice of wood you might need 2lb of force to shatter he glass. If you were to hit the same sheet of glass with the palm of your hand you might need 5lb of force to get the same result.
Does that make sense?
ie: glass will break under less force if the force is concentrated to a small area.

[caustichumor]

Well these days you could make the enclosure out of a concrete box and mount a camera on the interior connected to a plasma screen mounted on the front of the enclosure and you have a great indestructable snake enclosure/panic room.... or 4-6mm glass works as well...