Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Publication
    Finite Element Analysis of Thin Precast Concrete Sandwich Panels
    The purpose of this study is to numerically investigate the performance of a thin Precast Concrete Sandwich Panel (PCSP) proposed for building retrofit. Standard precast concrete sandwich panels, constructed of steel reinforced concrete, are physically heavy and have significant thicknesses. A thin precast concrete over-cladding sandwich panel is presented in this paper which combines the state-of-the-art in ultra-high-performance concrete, carbon fibre shear reinforcement and vacuum insulation to allow for a slimmer design while abiding by thermal and structural constraints. Another precast concrete re-cladding sandwich panel is also referred to in this paper which uses phase change materials (PCM) in a thicker inner wythe to enhance the thermal storage properties of the concrete. The panels are modelled, and their structural integrity is investigated, using finite element techniques. The aim of the analysis is to provide an insight into the limiting parameters of these thin precast concrete claddin elements. The analysis has highlighted the concrete wythe thickness and the insulation stiffness as two important performance parameters.
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  • Publication
    Development and testing of a sandwich panel with UHPC and PCM concrete layers
    Precast concrete sandwich panels provide a thermally efficient alternative to conventional brick and mortar construction and improve the energy efficiency of existing buildings. This project comprised the design and testing of a sample re-cladding panel composed of a phase change material (PCM) in the concrete inner wythe (for thermal efficiency) and a thin ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) outer wythe, joined compositely using a C-grid shear connector. Six different concrete mixes were prepared and structurally tested in compression and flexure. A concrete sandwich panel was cast using two of the best performing mixes and subsequently tested in three-point bending to investigate its flexural performance. The strongest PCM and UHPC concretes had average compressive and flexural strengths of 25MPa and 5.1MPa, and 121MPa and 9.2MPa respectively. The 900mm span panel tested in flexure reached its serviceability limit at 10kN, with ultimate peak load occurring at 97kN. Post-peak behaviour illustrated the role of the shear connector in allowing composite action to occur.
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