Sandwich panels with Textile Reinforced Cementitious skins as new insulating wall system

Subtitle:a case study

Increasing insulation requirements for buildings challenge the market for new thermally efficient components. Insulating sandwich panels combining Textile Reinforced Cementitious (TRC) skins with a rigid insulating core are a lightweight solution for walls as they combine both structural and thermal functions in one building element. This paper presents a numerical study on the structural feasibility of using these sandwich panels as a load bearing wall system in a building. The considered case study consists of a multi-storey residential building. The investigated parameters are the number of storeys for which these insulated sandwich panels can be used and the impact of the used floor type in the building. The structural evaluation is supported by a numerical model, which allows an in-depth investigation of the failure mode of the panel and yields insights in the parameters governing the design. Finally a comparison between a sandwich panel with TRC skins and one with traditional steel reinforced concrete skins illustrates the size and weight gains of the TRC panels and their structural potential.

Publication year:2017