Axial Compression Behaviour Analysis of Insulated Concrete Form (ICF) Wall Panel with Fibre Cement Board

Nowadays, one of the fastest growing technique is an Insulated Concrete Form (ICF). It has advantages like cost-effective, less maintenance, soundproof, energy-efficient, waterproof and disaster-resistant. ICF wall panels are made by interlocking Fibre Cement Board (FCB) sheet which poured in placed concrete. In this study, the behaviour of the ICF wall panel under axial compression is examined with experimental and analytical methods. ICF wall panels cast with various thickness and dense FCB are tested under axial compression. ICF panels with 1.2gm3/cm dense FCB with changing width of 6mm and 10mm were casted for experimental analysis. The experiments were carried out in an universal testing machine with the capacity of 600 kN. The maximum peak load of 540 kN is observed in FCB of 10mm thick and the maximum displacement of 13mm is observed in FCB80 at the peak load. An analytical investigation is carried with Euler’s crippling load equation and an average variation of 12% is observed between analytical and experimental results. It is concluded that the ICF system of construction provides desirable plastic behaviour against axial compressive loading. Hence ICF is recommended for construction to get the maximum benefits of the wall while it reaches ultimate strain.

Strengthening of Un-Reinforced Brick Masonry Walls Using Epoxy Mortar

This study is carried out to investigate the effectiveness of using externally applied epoxy mortar on joints of masonry wall panels to enhance their load carrying capacity under axial compressive and lateral loads. A total of six 113 mm thick masonry wall panels of size 1200 x 1200 mm were constructed for this study. Four out of six walls were strengthened using locally available CHEMDUR-31 epoxy mortar on joints. The remaining two walls were tested as control specimens. The control and strengthened wall panels were tested under axial compression and lateral loads. In axial compression test, out of plane central deflection and vertical strain at the center of wall panel were recorded while in lateral load test, in-plane lateral displacement of wall and horizontal strain at the center were recorded at each load increment. Failure pattern of each wall panel is also studied to notice its structural behavior. The results of this experimental study showed an increase of 45% and 60% in load carrying capacity under axial compression and lateral bending, respectively by the use of strengthening technique employed in this study.