Composite modular floor prototype for emergency housing applications: Experimental and analytical approach

Abstract

The present paper explores a new modular floor prototype to be used in emergency houses. The prototype is composed of a frame structure made of glass-fibre-reinforced polymer tubular pultruded profiles, a slab made of sandwich panels with a polyurethane foam core and glass-fibre-reinforced polymer skins, and a tailored connection system that provides integrity between assembled components. A series of experimental tests are carried out including flexural tests on a single panel, on two and three connected panels, and on the assembled floor prototype. The behaviour of the panels is analysed when they are not considered part of the glass-fibre-reinforced polymer framed structure, namely the failure mechanisms and the efficiency of the proposed connection system between the panels. The performance of the floor prototype to support typical load conditions of residential houses is also assessed. Additionally, an analytical model was used to deeper study the behaviour of the developed sandwich panels, connection system and the modular floor prototype.