Structural Performance of 3-D Sandwich Panels Under Shear and Flexural Loading

3-D wall panels are used in the construction of exterior and interior bearing and non-load bearing walls and floors in all types of construction. The present paper investigates the mechanical characteristics of 3D wall panels under static shear and bending loads, in order to better understand their structural components. The numerical model is loaded in increments to simulate the tests and to allow detection of failure in flexural tests for vertical and horizontal bearing panels and also for direct shear. The load-displacement curves, resulting from finite element analysis, are very similar to those tested specimens. Maximum loads in flexural tests, both for wall and floor panels, are equal to the experimental ultimate loads. The failure mechanism is started, after moving from the elastic zone at the load stage of 700 kg, by tension failure in the lower wythe of the concrete. Then, the crack propagates to the upper layer, at the level of 1200~kg load. The bottom mesh is yielded and, finally, the crushing of concrete causes the instability of the system. The maximum load is reported as 2200 kg. In direct shear analysis, the panel behaves as a cantilever deep beam.