Upgrading flexural performance of prefabricated sandwich panels under vertical loading

3-D wall panels are used in construction of exterior and interior bearing and non-load bearing walls and floors of building of all types of construction. Fast construction, thermal insulation, reduced labor expense and weight saving are the most well pronounced advantage of such precast system. When the structural performance is concerned, the main disadvantage of 3D panel, when used as floor slab, is their brittleness in flexure. The current study focuses on upgrading ductility and load carrying capacity of 3D slabs in two different ways; using additional tension reinforcement, and inserting a longitudinal concentrated beam. The research is carried on both experimentally and numerically. The structural performance in terms of load carrying capacity and flexural ductility are discussed in details. The obtained results could give better understanding and design consideration of such prefabricated system