A Study on Load Bearing Capacity of Sandwich Wall Panels

Sandwich wall panel technology is extensively used in energy efficient buildings for thermal and sound insulation. It has gained popularity in Sri Lanka as a non load bearing partition wall due to its light weight, cost effectiveness and faster construction. If accurate load bearing estimate of this wall panel is available, it can minimize or omit the use of other load bearing systems. The scope of this research is to recognize the suitability of available codes and reports for the design of sandwich wall panels with mortar wythes as load bearing walls and to identify the reduction in load bearing capacity due to a window opening in a wall panel. Three 1200 mm wide, 100 mm thick and 2400 mm high sandwich wall panels were cast, out of which two panels had openings to represent windows. The panels were tested in axial compression while monitoring transverse deflection at mid height of the panel. Test results depicted that ultimate load bearing capacities of three panels were nearly equal. All panels have shown local crushing failure near top and bottom loading points. Three sandwich panel blocks of 600 mm long, 100 mm thick and 300 mm high were tested in a Universal Testing Machine to measure ultimate load bearing capacity. The blocks had almost same ultimate bearing capacity as panels. Compressive capacity of structural mortar wythes and shear connectors were also separately tested to assure their compliance with relevant standards. Most suitable literature was recommended for the design of load bearing sandwich wall panels. It was concluded that, 600 mm wide and 900 mm high opening in the given orientation does not affect load bearing capacity of panels