Grant: Alliance Grants

The growing applications of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) in structures, particularly high-rise buildings, have prompted recent developments in Double Wythe Insulated (DWI) panels. The adoption of UHPC for DWI instead of traditional concrete has emerged as an innovative and lightweight technology, and although promising research on UHPC materials at high temperatures has been conducted, intermediate-scale and full-scale fire testing is deemed necessary for further assessment of the full UHPC DWI panels. Queen's University is partnering with ceEntek and the Canadian Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute (CPCI) in this proposed project. The overarching objective of this project is to better define the fire performance of realistic scale UHPC DWI panels. This will be achieved by fabricating intermediate and full-scale panels for testing in the furnaces at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Information stemming from this test series will allow for a way forward for this system, which could include recommendations for refinement (e.g. to the mix design to reduce concrete spalling, or to the shear connectors to enhance composite action), contributing to its development and application in Canadian construction. Cost effectiveness and affordability will be an important consideration, as structural fires have been tied to social and economic considerations, and all Canadians should be able to benefit from this fire resilient, affordable technology.