Structural performance of lightweight steel-foamed concrete–steel composite walling system under compression

This paper presents the results of an experimental and analytical investigation on the structural behaviour of a composite panel system consisting of two outer skins of profiled thin-walled steel plates with lightweight foamed concrete (LFC) core under axial compression. The gross dimensions of the test specimens were 400 mm×400 mm×100 mm. A total of 12 tests were carried out, composed of two duplicates of 6 variants which were distinguished by two steel sheeting thicknesses (0.4 mm and 0.8 mm) and three edge conditions of the sheeting. The density of LFC was 1000 kg/m3. Experimental results include failure modes, maximum loads and load-vertical strain responses. In analysis, full bond between the steel sheets and the concrete core was assumed and the LFC was considered effective in restraining inward buckling of the steel sheets. Using the effective width method for the steel sheets, the load carrying capacities of the test specimens were calculated and compared with the experimental results. It was found that a combination of the Uy and Bradford plate local buckling coefficients with the Liang and Uy effective width formulation produced calculation results in good agreement with the experimental results. Finally, a feasibility study was undertaken to demonstrate the applicability and limit of this new composite walling system in low rise construction.