Title: Experimental Investigation of Precast Concrete Insulated Sandwich Panels with Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer Shear Connectors

Author(s): Douglas Tomlinson and Amir Fam

Publication: Structural Journal

Volume: 111

Issue: 3

Appears on pages(s): 595-606

Keywords: connector; glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GRFP); insulation; partial composite; sandwich; shear; stud; wall; wythe

DOI: 10.14359/51686621

Date: 5/1/2014

Abstract:
A new precast concrete insulated sandwich wall panel with glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) shear connectors is investigated. The GFRP connectors, which connect the two outer concrete wythes, are embedded in floating concrete studs to reduce their shear deformations within the interstitial insulation layer. Nine full-scale, 2400 x 1550 x 260 mm (94.5 x 61 x 10.2 in.) panels were tested in four-point bending to examine the effects of varying the sizes and spacing of GFRP connectors, as well as the contribution of adhesion and friction bond between concrete and insulation. As the reinforcement ratio of GFRP connectors increased from 0.026 to 0.098% in these partially composite panels, the ultimate loads increased from 58 to 80% of the strength of an equivalent fully composite panel. Within this range, adhesion and friction contributed 44 to 59% of the ultimate loads. Despite the small embedment lengths of the sand-coated GFRP straight connectors in the wythes, no pullout failure occurred and all connectors fractured during the tests.