In this study, using a unique pneumatic pressure testing rig, bending tests are conducted on the two types of rigid polyurethane panels. The panels are categorized based on the existence of construction cold joints (seams) as S (Seamless) type and TS (Transverse Seams) type. | Effects of cold joints on the structural behaviour of polyurethane rigid foam panels Engineering Solid Mechanics 7 2019 1-12 Contents lists available at GrowingScience Engineering Solid Mechanics homepage esm Effects of cold joints on the structural behaviour of polyurethane rigid foam panels Saeed Nematia Pezhman Sharafia and Bijan Samalia a Centre for Infrastructure Engineering Western Sydney University Australia A R T I C L EI N F O ABSTRACT Article history Foam made panels as efficient building elements are becoming a major role player in modular Received 10 October 2018 construction with a variety of applications worldwide. However construction accuracy Accepted 23 December 2018 technology and method can have serious effects on the panels behavior. In this study using a Available online unique pneumatic pressure testing rig bending tests are conducted on the two types of rigid 23 December 2018 Keywords polyurethane panels. The panels are categorized based on the existence of construction cold joints Foam seams as S Seamless type and TS Transverse Seams type. The S type panels are tested under Panel monotonic uniform loading with a maximum nominal pressure of about 1 atm as the witness Seam specimens. The TS panels are tested under both monotonic and cyclic uniform loading and the Tensile strength deflections-pressure behavior obtained. The results show that S panels could resist up to atm Cyclic loading under monotonic uniform loading while the minimum tensile strength of the foam is 13 MPa. In addition panels with transverse seams collapsed under monotonic and cyclic loads at an average of atm and atm respectively but at the same position located on the seamed section which represent the same failure mode. Based on the results the seamed section exhibited a maximum tensile strength of about of an intact section under monotonic loading and lower results under cyclic loading. 2019 Growing Science Ltd. All rights
