Main Article Content
Abstract
Reinforced cement concrete wall panels are load bearing integral structural elements of a building system. The conventional wall panels are heavy, reinforced at least with minimum percentage of compression steel and possess handling and erection problems. Thin-walled reinforced concrete wall panels may eliminate the above shortcomings of the conventional wall panels. They are also highly suitable for modern construction as well as economical. A thin-walled open section compression member may be a suitable alternative to the rectangular thin wall panels to overcome the stability problems. Various geometrical sections like channel, trapezoidal and curved sections can be used in place of conventional wall panels. By virtue of their geometrical shape, the slenderness effect, hence the stability problem can be minimized if not completely eliminated.