Behavior of precast, prestressed concrete sandwich wall panels reinforced with CFRP shear grid

Abstract

This paper describes the structural behavior of precast, prestressed concrete sandwich wall panels reinforced with carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP) shear grid to achieve composite action. Use of CFRP as a shear transfer mechanism was intended to increase the thermal insulation efficiency, enhance the service life, and increase the overall structural capacities of the panels. This study included testing of six full-scale sandwich wall panels, each measuring 20 ft x 12 ft (6.1 m x 3.7 m). The panels consisted of two outer prestressed concrete wythes and an inner insulation wythe. The study included two types of insulation and several shear transfer mechanisms with different CFRP reinforcement ratios to examine the degree of composite action developed between the two concrete wythes. All panels were simultaneously subjected to applied gravity and lateral loads. Reverse-cyclic lateral loads simulated the effects of wind pressure and suction. All panels were subjected to approximately 4000 cycles of lateral loading with the presence of factored gravity load. Following each fatigue regime, the lateral loads were increased until failure was achieved. Test results of the experimental program were compared with theoretical predictions of fully composite and noncomposite actions to evaluate the percent composite action and to assess the optimum panel configuration.