Application of precast foamed concrete panels for the structural deck of green roof system

Abstract

Abstract Rapid development in urban areas has caused many environmental problems, one of which is the phenomenon of urban heat island (UHI) which results in excessive energy usage. The building sector is the most responsible for energy use, which accounts for 40% of total energy consumption. A green roof is a sustainable solution to solve the problems related to urban heat islands. To reduce more structural self-weight, lightweight foamed concrete could be applied as a roof construction material. This paper presents experimental results on the structural behavior of a U-shape precast panel made of lightweight foamed. Three foamed concrete panels in the U-shaped form having different width dimensions of 200mm, 400mm and 600mm with a clear span of 1800 mm were cast and tested until failure under a double mid-span concentrated load. The panels were considered as a simple U-shaped beam filled with a growing medium for a green roof system. This result shows a potential use of foamed concrete for roof deck structure integrated with a green roof system. The U-shaped panel with a width of 400mm is the optimal form of the three tested specimens for the structural roof deck of the green roof system.