Numerical Study of the Effect of Shear Connectors

in Insulated Sandwich Panel Building System

Devjit Acharjee Dibya Jyoti Basu Debasish Bandyopadhyay
Dept.of Construction Engineering Dept.of Construction Engineering Dept.of Construction Engineering
Jadavpur University Jadavpur University Jadavpur University
Kolkata, India Kolkata, India Kolkata, India
ORCID: 0000-0002-8454-9038 ORCID: 0000-0002-8454-9038 ORCID: 0000-0003-1968-701X

Abstract— Expanded polystyrene sandwich (EPS) Panels are contributed approximately 28% of the EPS panel's through-
one of the most advanced building systems currently accessible thickness shear strength [5]. The diameter of shear keys was
as an alternate solution for India's urgently needed affordable
housing. The structural stability of these structures, on the other increased to improve the through-thickness shear strength and
hand, is significantly dependent on these shear connectors' stiffness of EPS panels [4, 6, 7].
proper operation. The proposed paper looked into the effect of
spacing and alternative scenarios of shear connector failures, as The purpose of this study is to develop a FE model of an
well as the degradation of the bond between concrete and EPS panel to analyse its mechanical response and the impact
polystyrene core in EPS panels under flexure. It is also of shear keys, adopting static and dynamic analysis steps. The
attempted to perform a parametric study of the wall panel
thickness, reinforcement spacing, and grade of steel. It is panel is subjected to a three-point bending test using dynamic
observed that the structural stability of EPS panels depends on implicit analysis. The panel's through-thickness shear strength
the spacing, diameter and adequacies of the shear connectors. It improves with a higher reinforcing ratio. The use of better
seems that the insulated precast building panel structural
graded materials as shear keys increased its load-bearing
system has a great potential for practical implementation to
achieve the goal of efficient affordable housing. capacity. The typical buckling failure of shear keys is also
examined. The present study promises to evaluate EPS panel’s
Keywords—EPS Panel, Shear Connectors, Serviceability. flexural performance to achieve its safety and durability.
I. INTRODUCTION
II. NUMERICAL MODELLING
The need for energy has increased dramatically as industry
The EPS panel's geometry is represented by a square with
has grown. Residential energy consumption in India has
dimensions of 1000 mm X 1000 mm. The concrete cover is 35
climbed from 55% to over 80% in recent years [16]. The
mm thick and the polystyrene core is 60 mm thick. Fixed-fixed
growing depletion of natural resources for aggregate
boundary conditions are applied to the two opposing sides of
production, combined with rising global temperatures, has
the EPS panel. The concrete cover and polystyrene core are
compelled research into the best green building materials and
discretized using 3D stress brick components, while the
sustainable construction [7]. Expanded polystyrene sandwich
reinforcing steel is discretized using 2D truss elements [14].
(EPS) panels have grown in popularity as a result of its low
The M25 concrete cover, expanded polystyrene core, and FE
heat transmission, mechanical resilience, and long lifespan
500 steel reinforcements of 3 mm diameter are used in the
[3]. Shear keys in the reinforcing mesh control the shearing
primary numerical model of the EPS panel [2]. The
action between the concrete and polystyrene layers, as well as
reinforcing mesh embedded in the EPS panel and the FE
composite action in EPS panels [1]. Choi et al [8] investigated
discretization is given respectively in Fig. 1. In both
the effects of changing composite action on stress variations
directions, the transverse shear connectors are kept 100 mm
in EPS panels. Literature [1] discusses various types of shear
apart (c to c). Assuming it as 100%, another FE model with
connectors that can be used to transport shear from the bottom
shear connectors spaced 200 mm apart (c to c) is considered
to the top layers of the composite. The impact of shear
50%. Table 1. shows the material properties for the basic
connectors on composite constructions has been extensively
model. Using the same dynamic step, the influence of material
explored by researchers and scientists [11, 12, 15]. The
mechanical characteristics, shear key diameter is investigated.
buckling and failure of shear connectors inside the panel, as
well as other mechanical parameters related to the flexural TABLE I. Material properties for the basic model
member's strength and stiffness [10], have all been examined
to develop more efficient shear connector design. Hodicky et
al. [9] looked into the effect of the percentage of reinforcement
on composite structure mechanical strength. With low shear
spacing, the structure was reported to be prone to flexural
cracks and fatal failure of the entire structure [7]. The
concrete-polystyrene bonding action, on the other hand,

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 orienting the shear keys and using the appropriate adhesive
substance between the concrete and polystyrene layers.

.
Fig. 1. Reinforcement mesh & 3 point bending assembly

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIOINS

Fig. 2.Typical displacement contour of the panel under three-
This section of the study describes the findings of the point bending with 100% shear keys.
computational analysis. The failure pattern of the sandwich
panel under static loading is presented using the three-point
bending test (see Fig. 1). Regardless of the shear key features,
the lower concrete cover is found to be more prone to flexural
cracks. The first crack appears in the structure's shear span and
progresses to the top concrete layer [7]. The panel's flexural Fig. 3.Displacement contour (front view) through the EPS
behaviour is depicted by the displacement contour of the panel panel cross-section without shear keys.
during the three-point bending test, as shown in Fig. 2.
Shear sliding to some extent can be observed in the
composite interfaces. Higher tensile stress is found on the
shear keys; which further induces flexural cracks in the lower
concrete fibre. The first scenario has smaller shear key
spacing, whereas the others have wider spacing, and finally, a
model without shear keys is explored. The displacement
contour (refer to Fig.3) clearly illustrates the effect of critical Fig. 4.Load-deflection curve of sandwich panel with
shear sliding in EPS panels without shear keys. different % of shear keys
The effect of shear keys on the mechanical characteristics
of EPS panels can be seen in the standard load-deflection
curve (as shown in Fig. 4). The numerical evaluations resulted
in decreased load to deflection values with decreasing
reinforcing percentages, implying that the structure's flexural
strength decreases when shear reinforcement is reduced. The
degree of composite action may also have a significant
influence in this case. Without shear keys, the composite
Fig. 5.Load-deflection relation of sandwich panels varying
structure's performance has worsened significantly, as shown the grade of shear keys
in the figures (Fig. 4. & Fig. 5.). The flexural strength of
sandwich panels improves as the grade of reinforcing steel
increases. Better graded reinforcements in an EPS panel may
be able to minimize the thickness of the polystyrene core,
lowering the cost of constructing an EPS panel.
The study concludes with a dynamic explicit analysis step
that examines the composite panel under pure shear. Fixed
boundary conditions are applied (see Fig.1), and Fig. 6.Shear stress contour of the expanded polystyrene
insulated panel under pure shear
displacement-controlled loadings are given along the positive
z-axis. Using the typical shear stress contour of the composite
structure, the numerical result (as shown in Fig.6) of the EPS
panel under pure shear is demonstrated.
The reduction in bond strength between the concrete and
polystyrene interfaces is one of the main factors for the
emergence of flexural cracks in the lower concrete cover. The
shear load-displacement curve helps to explain this Fig. 7.Typical shear load-deflection curve of the insulated
panel under pure shear.
occurrence (refer Fig. 7). This can be solved by properly

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 The shear keys' buckling configuration is shown in Fig. 8.
The cracks will migrate towards the upper face once apparent
surface cracks occur. Tension cracks will appear first, and this
might be considered as the first stage of stable crack
propagation, necessitating the use of retrofitting procedures to
restore serviceability.
Buckling of the shear connectors of the expanded
Fig. 8.
polystyrene panel under pure shear
In flexure and shear testing, the numerical findings of this
work reveal the thickness-shear behaviour of composite
panels. Bond degradation is one of the major reasons for
structure failure, hence it's important to apply adhesive
adequately between the surfaces. The current study appears to
be useful for predicting global structural responses of EPS
panels for application in real-time construction.
IV. CONCLUSIONS
The numerical results from the present study has revealed
that the lower concrete fibre of the EPS panel is extremely
vulnerable to tensile cracks, which would further propagate up
to the final collapse. Under a pure shear load, the shear load-
displacement curve for the composite structure is
approximately tri-linear (refer Fig. 7.); supporting the results
of previous literature [7]. The failure of the shear keys is also
associated with the buckling of the members; as evident from
the results (refer Fig. 8.). It is found that the serviceability of
the EPS panels declined with lower percentage of shear
reinforcement. Moreover, EPS panels with higher graded
shear keys achieved better flexural and shear strength. A full-
scale EPS panel wall could be analysed for future study. The
effect of door openings can also be studied along with
modifying material qualities, reinforcement diameter, and
reinforcement mesh size. The present research seems to be
important for increasing the reliability of modular building
materials like EPS panels to create sustainable infrastructure.
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