An investigation of laser-welded corrugated-core sandwich beams and plates stiffened with concrete

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the behavior of a corrugated-core sandwich panel with a concrete top layer under normal loads applied to the concrete face. This sandwich panel is composed of two steel face plates separated by a corrugated sheet welded to them at its crests and troughs. A concrete layer is placed on the top face of the sandwich panel, utilizing shear connectors to ensure composite action. The objective of this study is to examine the structural behavior of these composite panels. This thesis intends to provide design capabilities for applications in which this type of sandwich panel is well suited, e.g., emergency bridge repair, building floors, or fire walls. The panels are analyzed using both elementary beam theory (for narrow panels) and the classical theory of orthotropic plates. In order to complete the theory, the bending stiffnesses in the various directions are determined by structural analysis. To verify the theory, extensive experimental testing has been performed on the sandwich panels. It is found that compression of the core accounts for a majority of the deflection in the relatively thick specimens tested here. Measured deflections are compared with those obtained theoretically, and after corrections are made for core compression, they are in fair agreement.