A pre-stressed structure and a method for forming a pre-stressed structure are provided. The pre-stressed structure comprises a panel including a first region pre-stressed into a condition of membrane tension, resulting in the panel having increased transverse stiffness. The pre-stressed structure may further comprise a second region pre-stressed into a condition of membrane compression. The panel may be a plate or a shell and may form part of an insulating glass unit, which in turn may form part of a curtainwall unit.

A pre-stressed structure and a method for forming a pre-stressed structure are provided. The pre-stressed structure comprises a panel including a first region pre-stressed into a condition of membrane tension, resulting in the panel having increased transverse stiffness. The pre-stressed structure may further comprise a second region pre-stressed into a condition of membrane compression. The panel may be a plate or a shell and may form part of an insulating glass unit, which in turn may form part of a curtainwall unit.

Lightweight ballistic glasses are provided that provide effective protection from ballistic attack while also being lightweight enough for use in armored vehicles and aircraft. In addition to other embodiments, a multilayered lightweight ballistic glass is provided that meets the CEN 1063 Level BR7 standard while having a weight of no greater than about 155 kilograms per square meter (kg/m.sup.2), and a total thickness of less than about 75 mm.

A laminated glazing has a first glass ply having first and second surfaces, a second glass ply having third and fourth surfaces, an obscuration band around at least a portion of the glazing periphery, the obscuration band having a sensor window and comprising first and second obscuration layers, the first obscuration layer adhered to at least a portion of the periphery of the first/second surface and comprising a first sensor window portion having a first sensor window portion optical distortion, the second obscuration layer adhered to at least a portion of the periphery of the third/fourth surface and comprising a second sensor window portion having a second sensor window portion optical distortion. first and second sensor window portion optical distortions are each controlled so the absolute magnitude of the optical distortion of the sensor window is lower than the absolute magnitude of the first and second sensor window optical distortions.