Theses and Dissertations Collection

Insulated concrete sandwich panels are composed of two concrete wythes separated by a layer of foam insulation, providing the dual function of load transferring and insulation. Extensive studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of the sandwich panels as structural wall elements using different shear connectors including steel wires, solid concrete zones, FRP ties, FRP shear grid, etc. Those studies have shown that the behavior of panels depends upon the composite action between the two concrete wythe provided by the shear connectors. The objective of the study is to study the bending behavior of sandwich panels, in terms of stiffness and strength, with FRP plate shear connectors (both with and without FRP plates externally bonded) and their applicability for roof/floor constructions, as well as their behavior with respect to creep when a sustained load is applied.

The following document will show that FRP plate shear connectors are a feasible option for sandwich panel application. Additionally, the application of external FRP plates provide a confining effect which results in a higher degree of composite action, supplies a water barrier to protect the concrete, and even limits creep deflection over time to a level below that of a typical solid concrete slab.