Analysing and improving the applicability of Precast Concrete Sandwich Panels

Abstract

In this report, the applicability of Precast Concrete Sandwich panels (PCSPs) is analysed and improved. This is done by a multitude of methods: a literature study is performed, an advanced, non-linear Finite Element model and simple linear analytical model are developed, and calculations have been performed on a design-structure from Lievense | WSP. The literature study is performed to gain insight into the unique behavioural aspects of PCSPs, and to find where the current issues arise regarding the already-present prediction models. After the most important aspects of these floors have been determined, an advanced Finite Element model is developed to predict both the linear and non-linear behaviour of PCSPs. This FE-model has the possibility to include the non-linearity of all materials. In order to verify the correctness of the full behaviour of this model, it has been compared to experiments from literature. Additionally, a simple linear analytical model is developed, with the goal to make PCSPs easy-to-use in practice, so that people without knowledge about the background-calculations are still able to make use of these floors. This analytical model is compared to the linear version of the FE-model. On top of this, the Reinbouw project from Lievense | WSP is used to analyse what the bottlenecks are in their current design of a fully prefabricated structure. Based on these bottlenecks, a calculation is done to find the required resistances of the PCSPs to ensure a structurally verified structure. Both the linear prediction model and the Reinbouw project are combined at the end, where an advice is given on the PCSP-design in the Reinbouw project. All of these methods have the goal of increasing the applicability of PCSPs.