A Case Study: Criteria of Insulated Concrete Foam (ICF) in a Project in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

In this paper, the structural and heating performance of Insulated Concrete Form wall panels and conventional reinforced concrete structural systems were examined. Both experimental work and finite element analysis were used to analyses the loading capacity, displacement, and heating efficiency of the two structural designs. Experiments were carried out on five panels of ICF designs having expanded polystyrene of various densities and thicknesses. In addition, a finite element analysis using the ABAQUS program was performed to validate the experimental data. The analysis showed that the ICF 40100 design had a compressive strength of 25.01 MPa, which was over 40% higher than plain concrete, as well as an ultimate load of 17.97 kN. Increased density and thickness of the expanded polystyrene improved load support, minimized crack propagation, and enhanced material ductility. The addition of ferrocement and CFRP increased structural stiffness by 62%, as well as minimized displacement. Heating analysis of the designed villa proved that ICF performed better by cooling the interior temperature by 8°C and shortening the structural creation process by 15%, thereby presenting strong evidence of better energy and economic advantages. The high correlation between experimental and FEA data ensures that the FEA model provides precise estimates. The data thus supports the applicability of ICF as an effective energy-saving technique that provides structural stability against reinforced concrete walls.