Investigations on the flexural performance of integrated laced steel-concrete composites (i-LSCC) panels

This study investigates the flexural performance of the integrated Laced Steel-Concrete Composite (i-LSCC) panel. The proposed integration scheme connects three individual LSCC units using bolted flange connections, ensuring efficient load transfer against shear and axial forces. To evaluate its structural performance, both experimental and numerical studies are conducted. Static tests are performed on the i-LSCC panel unit under different loading directions to assess the effectiveness of the connection scheme. In the experimental setup, two-point loading is applied to the central LSCC unit, with mid-span displacement measured across all three interconnected units. The results demonstrate that the LSCC units function cohesively as an integrated panel, as evidenced by the load-displacement curves. The nearly identical peak load and ultimate displacement observed in both tests indicate that loading direction has minimal influence on the structural response. The observed support rotations at peak displacement are approximately 12° and 11°, closely matching the target rotation of 10°, thus validating the integration scheme. The i-LSCC panels fail due to the tearing of the bottom cover plates under flexural loading. Finite element analysis (FEA) is carried out to compare numerical predictions with experimental findings. FEA closely matches with experimental findings in the linear range, though it overestimates peak and ultimate loads by 10% and underestimates maximum displacement by 15%. It accurately captures key failure behaviours, including the local buckling of the top cover plate. These results demonstrate that the i-LSCC panel exhibits excellent ductile performance, making it a viable approach for enhancing blast resilience. The study highlights the potential of the i-LSCC panels in blast-resistant engineering while enabling efficient construction.