INVESTIGATION OF OUT-OF-PLANE BENDING BEHAVIOR OF PRECAST CONCRETE SANDWICH PANELS

Abstract

Precast concrete sandwich panel (PCSP) is composed of two concrete layers, known as wythes, separated by a rigid layer of insulation. The out-of-plane bending behavior of sandwich panel heavily depends on the shear force transferred between the wythes through elements known as shear connectors. Fully composite and non-composite panels can be readily analyzed, but there is uncertainty between designers in evaluating of partially composite panels because their behavior is much more complex and typically rely on test results. In this research a 3D non-linear finite element model utilizing ANSYS software, V19.3, was developed and validated against published test data, then a parametric study followed. The parametric considered some parameters that believed to impact the out-of-plane bending such as: shear connectors shape and distribution, connectors area, panel length, effect of foam core bond in composite action, concrete grade, wythes thickness, adding ribs to the structural wythe, and use of GFRP material in the shear connectors. The results of the developed model were in a good agreement with the test results and this was sufficient to employ the model to capture the variation effect of the parameters presented in this study