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Keywords: GRC, façade panels, experimental tests, FEM, pathologies, rehabilitation.

Summary

Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) is a composite material that consists of a cementitious matrix in which short length glass fibres are dispersed. The glass fibres confer to the brittle matrix a more ductile behaviour, a much greater impact resistance and some tension resistance. These properties allow the fabrication of thin wall elements, with important advantages when compared to alternative solutions (reinforced concrete, steel plates). This material has been used for more than thirty years in the construction industry, especially in façade panels, which are not normally dimensioned as structural elements.

In this paper a case study is presented, for a GRC façade building where important pathologies where detected, associated with extensive cracking and panels deformation. The façade was built with sandwich panels, of two outer GRC thin plates with insulation elements (expanded polystyrene and mineral wool) in between.

The authors used the finite element method (FEM) to assess the mechanical behaviour of the façade elements, considering the self weight and temperature gradients. The FEM modelling was validated with results of experimental tests previously on the façade. The numerical analysis clearly reproduced the pathologies detected in the façade inspection, leading to the identification of the respective causes.

To eliminate the detected symptoms and avoid new pathologies different technical solutions were considered, like the application of special coatings or the installation of additional insulating systems. The FEM was again used to evaluate the mechanical performance of the different alternatives considered, leading to the choice of the optimal solution.

References

1: A. Bentur, S. Mindess, "Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites", Elsevier Applied Science, 1990.
2: A. Majumdar, J. Ryder, "Glassfibre reinforcement for cement products", Glass Technology, Vol. 9, 78-84, 1968.
3: Cem-FIL GRC Technical Data, Cem-FIL International Ltd, Vetrotex, UK, 1998.
4: E. Knowles, "Recommended Practice for Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Panels", Committee on Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Panels, PCI, USA, 1987.
5: SAP 2000 Users Manual (version 7.40).
6: O.C. Zienkiewicz, R.L. Taylor, "The Finite Element Method - Volume 2. Solid and Fluid Mechanics. Dynamics and Non-Linearity", McGraw Hill, London, 1991.
7: R.D. Cook, D.S. Malkus, M.E. Plesha, "Concepts and Applications of the Finite Element Analysis", Wiley, 1989.
8: J.L. Batoz, M.B. Tahar, "Evaluation of a new quadrilateral thin plate bending element", Int. J. Num. Meth. Eng., Vol 18, pp. 1655-77, 1982. doi:10.1002/nme.1620181106

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Front Page Browse CCP CSETS CTR IJRT Other Authors Search Purchase Guide FAQ Contact us	Civil-Comp Proceedings ISSN 1759-3433 CCP: 79 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON COMPUTATIONAL STRUCTURES TECHNOLOGY Edited by: B.H.V. Topping and C.A. Mota Soares Paper 208 Assessment of GRC Façade Panels Mechanical Behaviour with the FEM J. Ribeiro Correia, J. Ferreira and F. Branco Department of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Instituto Superior Técnico, Technical University of Lisbon, Portugal doi:10.4203/ccp.79.208 purchase the full-text of this paper Full Bibliographic Reference for this paper J. Ribeiro Correia, J. Ferreira, F. Branco, "Assessment of GRC Façade Panels Mechanical Behaviour with the FEM", in B.H.V. Topping, C.A. Mota Soares, (Editors), "Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Computational Structures Technology", Civil-Comp Press, Stirlingshire, UK, Paper 208, 2004. doi:10.4203/ccp.79.208 Keywords: GRC, façade panels, experimental tests, FEM, pathologies, rehabilitation. Summary Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete (GRC) is a composite material that consists of a cementitious matrix in which short length glass fibres are dispersed. The glass fibres confer to the brittle matrix a more ductile behaviour, a much greater impact resistance and some tension resistance. These properties allow the fabrication of thin wall elements, with important advantages when compared to alternative solutions (reinforced concrete, steel plates). This material has been used for more than thirty years in the construction industry, especially in façade panels, which are not normally dimensioned as structural elements. In this paper a case study is presented, for a GRC façade building where important pathologies where detected, associated with extensive cracking and panels deformation. The façade was built with sandwich panels, of two outer GRC thin plates with insulation elements (expanded polystyrene and mineral wool) in between. The authors used the finite element method (FEM) to assess the mechanical behaviour of the façade elements, considering the self weight and temperature gradients. The FEM modelling was validated with results of experimental tests previously on the façade. The numerical analysis clearly reproduced the pathologies detected in the façade inspection, leading to the identification of the respective causes. To eliminate the detected symptoms and avoid new pathologies different technical solutions were considered, like the application of special coatings or the installation of additional insulating systems. The FEM was again used to evaluate the mechanical performance of the different alternatives considered, leading to the choice of the optimal solution. References 1 A. Bentur, S. Mindess, "Fibre Reinforced Cementitious Composites", Elsevier Applied Science, 1990. 2 A. Majumdar, J. Ryder, "Glassfibre reinforcement for cement products", Glass Technology, Vol. 9, 78-84, 1968. 3 Cem-FIL GRC Technical Data, Cem-FIL International Ltd, Vetrotex, UK, 1998. 4 E. Knowles, "Recommended Practice for Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Panels", Committee on Glass Fibre Reinforced Concrete Panels, PCI, USA, 1987. 5 SAP 2000 Users Manual (version 7.40). 6 O.C. Zienkiewicz, R.L. Taylor, "The Finite Element Method - Volume 2. Solid and Fluid Mechanics. Dynamics and Non-Linearity", McGraw Hill, London, 1991. 7 R.D. Cook, D.S. Malkus, M.E. Plesha, "Concepts and Applications of the Finite Element Analysis", Wiley, 1989. 8 J.L. Batoz, M.B. Tahar, "Evaluation of a new quadrilateral thin plate bending element", Int. J. Num. Meth. Eng., Vol 18, pp. 1655-77, 1982. doi:10.1002/nme.1620181106 purchase the full-text of this paper (price £20) go to the previous paper go to the next paper return to the table of contents return to the book description purchase this book (price £135 +P&P)
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