Finite element analysis of fast-track wall housing system

Abstract

Fast-Track Wall (FTW) system is a load bearing wall system constructed by pouring concrete into a specially designed formwork of FTW. The construction time is reduced significantly compared to conventional brick wall system. The design procedure for the FTW system is according to plain concrete walls, where the wall contains either no reinforcement or less than 0.4% reinforcement. Reinforcement is only provided in FTW walls to control cracking, but not for strength. This study focuses on the finite element linear elastic analysis of a double storey house under load combinations according to British Standard of Structural Use of Concrete (BS 8110), built using Fast-Track Wall system. A finite element software called LUSAS is used for the analysis and the stresses obtained from the analysis are compared with allowable tensile and compression stresses of the concrete. Also, critical stress locations in the wall with opening are defined based on an appropriate stress criterion. Finally, a stress based design equation that relates the rectangular opening sizes to the stress is proposed for FTW housing system. Besides evaluating stresses, suitable diagonal corners sizes based on the stresses in wall with rectangular opening is suggested.