In order to optimise outer
wall’s thickness and to reduce the required construction phases (costs)
carrying walls
built as “
sandwich” panels (insulated wall panels) seem to be a
reasonable alternative. Finished wall consists of inside insulation and two
concrete wythes connected by shear connectors. It acts as
composite wall up to
a certain point. Load carrying ability of such elements is investigated
experimentally and analytically. The experimental investigation consisted of
trial loadings of model “sandwich” boards, up to the failure, under vertical,
horizontal and in plane loading. The obtained results are compared with
modified (based on the tests) analytical values for uniform concrete sections.
Analytical values correlated well with the experimental results. Based on the
results and published test results of the similar structures, suggestions for
design of load carrying composite “sandwich” wall panels are given.