Comparison of the Performance of Prestressed Ribbed Panels and Hollow Core Panels Supported on Four-Edges

Abstract

Tests of full-scale models of the precast slab with dimensions of 6.30 x 6.30 m, built of two different precast panels, were carried out under short-term load. The models were made of autoclaved aerated concrete (700 type) brick with a thickness of 240 mm and a height of 2.24 m. The slabs were supported at four edges. The first slab was precast prestressed ribbed panels with concrete overtopping. The second slab was made of prestressed hollow-core panels. The panels had the same modular width of 600 mm. Tests were carried out under load placed on the top of the slab. The short-term load was applied sequentially, and displacement measurements were measurement by the electronic method. The load was initially applied evenly distributed. In the last step, part of the load was transferred to one-half of the slabs. The obtained load was different for each half of the slab. The first part of the slab were panels 1 to 5, loaded with the value of 1.7 kN/m2, and the second part was panels 6 to 10 loaded with the value of 7.7 kN/m2. The tests allow determining the difference in slabs' performance depending on shear key construction. The panels maintained the possibility of load redistribution based on their interaction despite the longitudinal joints' work only through the concrete cross-section. The slabs had a different character of transverse displacements depending on the presence of concrete topping. The models revealed a different response to transferring part of the load to one-half of the slabs. There were no cracks in the line of longitudinal joints on the upper surface of the slabs. Also, there were no cracks on the bottom of the panels. At the panels' connection with the wall, rotation and lifting corners of the slabs were noticed. The measured displacements were significantly smaller than for the corresponding models of single-span slabs with a parallel load.