International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 06 | Jun 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON COLD FORMED STEEL – LIGHTWEIGHT CONCRETE COMPOSITE WALL PANELS UNDER LATERAL LOAD Shivamanjunathaswamy H G1, Ashish Aras K2, Dr. Kiran T3 1 Ph. D Research Scholar, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Bangalore University, Bengaluru 2 Post Graduate Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE) 3Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, University of Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE)
Bengaluru ---------------------------------------------------------------------***---------------------------------------------------------------------
Abstract - The walls dividing floor spaces add considerable
lightweight concrete with improved durability and reduced porosity.
dead weight to the building, increasing its vulnerability during an earthquake event. Thus, the mass of wall panels must be reduced to enhance structural resistance to dead loads and minimize earthquake risks. This paper presents an experimental investigation to study the structural behavior of a composite wall panel system under out-of-plane lateral loading. The system comprises of two outer skins of profiled thin-walled steel plates of thickness 1.0 mm bonded to a lightweight concrete core (with expanded polystyrene beads) using 8 mm diameter shear studs. Four panel variants are tested: 1. Lightweight concrete without sheet (LWC-1), 2. Basalt Fiber-reinforced lightweight concrete without sheet (BFRLWC-1), 3. Lightweight concrete with sheet (LWC–2) and 4. Basalt Fiber-reinforced lightweight concrete with sheet (BFRLWC-2). These panels are subjected to lateral tests to evaluate their flexural behavior. The key outcomes include failure modes and load-deformation curves, providing insights into the system’s performance with different infill materials.
Generally concrete is a material known for its low tensile strength and limited strain capacity. However, its mechanical properties can be significantly improved by incorporating fibres into the mix. Fiber-reinforced concrete is commonly used due to its enhanced ductility, corrosion resistance and durability. Various types of fibres, including steel and synthetic options, can be added to cement-based composites. Among these, basalt fibre has emerged as a strong alternative to traditional fibres like glass and carbon, offering high strength, chemical resistance, flexibility and excellent electrical insulation. Basalt fibre-reinforced composites are increasingly used across sectors such as aerospace, construction, petrochemicals and automotive industries. Additionally, the production of basalt fibre is environmentally friendly, as it does not release toxic gases or industrial waste and avoids the use of harmful substances like boron and alkali metal oxides during the melting process.
Key Words: Composite Wall Panel, Expanded Polystyrene Beads (EPS), Basalt Fiber, Lightweight Concrete (LWC), Basalt Fiber Reinforced Lightweight Concrete (BFRLWC), Out of Plane Lateral Load.
Therefore, the steel-lightweight concrete composite arrangement offers an effective balance of strength, ductility and thermal insulation, making it a promising alternative to traditional wall construction methods. While the steel sheets contribute tensile resistance and serve as permanent formwork, their thin profile makes them vulnerable to local buckling. The lightweight concrete core plays a crucial role in restraining this buckling, thereby enhancing the overall stability of the system. These panels are valued for their ease of installation, reduced dead load and efficient performance under lateral. When used in combination with composite floor systems, they offer further structural advantages and are increasingly adopted as core walls in steel-framed buildings.
1.INTRODUCTION Composite steel–lightweight concrete wall panels are innovative structural systems that combine two vertically aligned profiled steel sheets with a lightweight concrete core, often enhanced with materials such as expanded polystyrene (EPS) beads to reduce the overall weight. Lightweight concrete is designed to meet specific requirements such as structural strength, reduced density and high thermal insulation. There are several methods for producing lightweight concrete, with one of the most costeffective being the use of lightweight aggregate alternatives. Materials like pumice, diatomite, perlite and volcanic cinders are commonly used for this purpose. However, their highwater absorption leads to a more porous concrete structure. To overcome these limitations, Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) beads are used, known for their closed-cell structure, hydrophobic nature and non-absorbent properties, EPS beads offer a viable solution for producing effective
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2. RESEARCH OBJECTIVES The study aims the following objectives:
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To analyse and evaluate the mechanical characteristics of the proposed concrete mix.
To study the structural response of composite wall panels made with Cold-Formed Steel and Basalt
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