Axial and Shear Behavior of Glass Fiber Reinforced Gypsum Wall Panels: Tests

Abstract

Glass fiber reinforced gypsum (GFRG) walls and their associated building system are the new building product and building system that have been developed in the Australian building industry in the last decade. GFRG walls are factory made glass-fiber reinforced gypsum hollow walling panels with/without in situ reinforced concrete filling inside the cavities. GFRG can be used as various structural elements, such as walls and slabs. GFRG, in its short life, without extensive product development and comprehensive structural design guidelines, has been used as the principal wall construction material in more than 3,000 dwellings across Australia. As GFRG walls find more and more applications and interests in the building industry in Australia as well as in other countries, comprehensive structural design guidelines for GFRG walls and their building system have become necessary. Comprehensive experimental testing and theoretical studies started in 2002 as an international research and development program to develop structural design guidelines for GFRG walls. The axial and shear tests are reported in this paper.