Thermo-Mechanical Behaviour of Lightweight Precast Sandwich Panels Incorporating Solid Waste—An Experimental Investigation

Precast concrete sandwich panels (PCSPs) are lightweight, prefabricated composites consisting of two basalt fibre-reinforced concrete wythes and expanded polystyrene (EPS). EPS as a thermal insulation layer is used to improve the energy efficiency in buildings. The combination along with basalt fibre connectors was used in the preparation of PCSPs to realize the composite action and also enhance thermal resistance. The prime aim of the study was to develop load bearing PCSPs by utilizing stone waste and thereby investigation of its structural and thermal performance. Various properties of the raw materials such as chemical composition and particle size distribution were investigated. The samples were put through a number of tests including the thermal resistivity test and the three-point bending test. The panels' load vs. mid-span deflection relationships, crack patterns and failure mechanisms were determined. The findings indicated that the panel specimens had adequate flexural strength and thermal resistivity.