Structural Behavior of Composite Sandwich Slab Panels

Abstract

Concrete sandwich panel [CSP] is a relatively new and innovated form of construction. In the present study, it is consisting of a layer of light weight concrete [L.W.C], sandwiched between two outer layers of reinforced concrete which are connected together by truss reinforcement as shear connectors. An experimental study was conducted on ten slab panels, with three variables were investigated (thickness of the inner wythe, the strength of the outer wythe, and the type of light weight aggregate which used in the inner wythe) .When one of these variables was varied, the other two variables remain constant. The slab panels were tested as simply support under two point loads. The results, that obtained from the experimental program, indicated that the strength of the reference slab panels increased when the thickness was increased. This behavior can be seen when the thickness of the inner wythe for sandwich slab panels was increased. The strength was decreased when the concrete strength of the outer wythes increase for sandwich slab panels. The strength of the sandwich slab panel with the sawdust, which used as aggregate in the inner wythe, was greater than the strength of sandwich slab panel with polystyrene (styropor) or porcilenite.