Exploring the impact of EPS incorporation on insulated concrete form (ICF) wall panels under axial compression and flexure

Abstract

Axial, flexure, and shear loads are the most common loads that could impact any structure. For instance, wall panels and columns majorly carry axial loads from the beam and slabs; they are also susceptible to flexure and shear loads from the wind or earthquake loads. Insulated concrete form (ICF) is a portable component of interconnected expanded polystyrene (EPS) panels filled with concrete. EPS remains in place and becomes part of the wall to enhance thermal resistance and structural performance. This paper focuses on an experiment that investigated the performance of ICF wall panels under axial compression and flexure. EPS with a higher density of 20 and 40 kg/m3 and a higher thickness of 50 and 100 mm was selected to prepare ICF wall panels for this experimental investigation. In addition, the plain concrete panel was cast for reference. Axial, flexure, and shear load-carrying capacity, load displacement, load–deflection profiles, crack propagation patterns, failure nature, and strain energy are analyzed and reported in this paper. It was observed that ICF panels were superior to plain concrete panels in terms of axial, flexure, and shear load-carrying capacity, failure nature, and absorbed strain energy.

Keywords

• Axial compression
• Expanded polystyrene
• Four-point flexure test
• Insulated concrete form
• Load–deflection curve
• Load–displacement curve