SEDL / STP / STP1034-EB / STP20136S

Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete Cladding Panels

Knowles, ES
Vice president, Lafayette Manufacturing, Inc., Hayward, CA

Pages: 14    Published: Jan 1991

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Abstract

Glass fiber reinforced concrete (GFRC) panels are a lightweight cladding panel. They are used as facia panels for building structures. GFRC panels support their own vertical load and the vertical load from the glazing system.

The GFRC skin is reinforced (stiffened) by a steel stud frame. The stud frame is attached to the GFRC skin by means of flex anchors.

The gravity load of the GFRC skin is transferred to the stud frame by two methods: (1) flex anchors only and (2) gravity anchors in addition to flex anchors. The stud frame is attached to the structure, and the loads of the panel are carried through the stud frame to the panel connection points on the structure.