Strength Development and Lateral Load Resisting Properties of Expanded Polystyrene Based Lightweight Concrete Panels

The construction industry is rapidly moving toward sustainable development due to the rise of the scarcity of natural resources and the climatic impact on the environment. Several studies have been carried out related to the subject of Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) based lightweight concrete panel production and its usages in buildings. This paper mainly focuses on strength development and lateral load-bearing capacity of the EPS panels where these panels are used as a loadbearing wall in buildings. Lateral loading resistance properties and performance of lightweight wall panels were assessed by carrying out load tests on scale down wall specimens representing the actual wall construction. The strength development of EPS-based concrete panels was assessed by developing strength curves from compressive strength tests carried out for different curing conditions of the lightweight concrete. The outcomes of this study show that the flexural strength parallel to the wall panels is in the range of 0.58 to 0.70N/mm². Under wet conditions, it reduces to 0.45 N/mm². Also, there was an average of 0.4 N/mm² compressive strength difference between properly cured and noncured EPS samples, which is approximately 20% of strength development in the six month period.