Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Buckling of Structural Insulated Panel under In-Plane Loading

Resumo

Structural insulated panels (SIP) are booming in the construction industry as an alternative to traditional
materials. These panels considerably improve construction times compared to conventional wet systems. Its
implementation in varied designs results in versatile structures with more comfortable and cooler interior
environments, which translates into significant energy savings for its inhabitants. These panels are a composite
material. They are typically comprised of two outer layers and a core layer. The outer layers are formed by wooden
flakes mixed with a phenolic and polyurethane adhesive pressed at high temperature and pressure. The core middle
layer is formed by high-density expanded polystyrene and bonded to the outer layers by high-strength adhesives.
Various mechanical tests are usually carried out on isolated panel modules in order to ensure their good structural
behavior. This study reports the results of one of them, and it is focused on analyzing the structural behavior of an
isolated module subjected to in-plane compression. The research is based on experimental measurements carried
out on a panel to determine its maximum loading capacity and deformation. A numerical analysis is implemented
by modeling the panel with a multipurpose finite element code. Linear buckling analysis (LBA) and geometric
nonlinear analysis (GNLA) allowed the evaluation of buckling loads and nonlinear behavior. Modeling results are
compared to the experimental results in order to validate the features and behavior of the model so it can be used
in future analyses involving three-dimensional configurations created from the combination of multiple panels