Applicable use of lightweight foam concrete composite sandwich panels as a flooring system

Abstract

Experimental and analytical studies were conducted to investigate the structural performance of lightweight foam concrete composite sandwich panels (LFCCSP) of total number six as one-way action slab, differing in their thickness and tested under out-of-plane load. The details of the test setup and procedures were demonstrated. The results attained from the experimental tests were analysed and discussed which comprise, compressive and flexural strengths of foam concrete, the influence of aspect ratio (L/b), and observation of cracking patterns. Also, the analytical study of finite element analysis (FEA) using LUSAS software was employed and the degree of composite action of the test LFCCSP panels was also studied in both analytical and experimental studies. Result displays that crack patterns appeared in only one-direction with similar behaviour reported on solid slabs, in particular, at the case when both concrete wythes act as one structural composite unit. Foam concrete (FC) was briefly used to cast LFCCSP panels. The experimental results were compared with the given FEA data, showing a reasonable degree of accuracy. Hence, in the basis of the results obtained, LFCCSP slab can be used as a substitute system element to traditional flooring system.