Design, Development, and Testing of a Composite Roofing System
Publication: Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 20, Issue 2
Abstract
Roofing is one of the most vulnerable parts of the building envelope in a residential structure, often damaged during extreme wind events such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Conventional roofing systems in residential buildings mostly consist of separate the main wind force resisting system (MWFRS) and components and cladding (C&C). High wind uplift forces often cause partial or full destruction of one or more of these elements, leading to water intrusion and losses of interior contents. This study focuses on the design, development, and testing of a new composite roofing system that integrates the functionalities of the MWFRS and C&C. The new system is composed of lightweight concrete panels reinforced with fiber-reinforced polymer mesh and rods. The architectural shape of a conventional residential roof with high profile tiles was adopted for the composite roof panels to help provide the requisite structural stiffness and strength of the MWFRS, while maintaining similar C&C aesthetics and avoiding failure of individual tiles that often become wind-borne debris. The panel system was subjected to a battery of tests under equivalent wind loads. In addition, three connections for the system were designed and validated through testing. The panel-to-wall connection provided ample continuity of the vertical load path; the panel to panel connection was found adequate for shear transfer; and the ridge connection allowed for load transfer between the windward and leeward sides of the roof. Tests demonstrated the structural viability of the new system as an alternative to conventional roofs, making it ideal for residential buildings in hurricane zones and tornado alleys. The purpose of the paper is to present details of the system and their structural reliability. Durability and constructibility issues, including cracking, are the object of future work.
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Acknowledgments
Support for this study was provided by the International Hurricane Research Center (IHRC) at Florida International University (FIU) through the Center of Excellence in Hurricane Damage Mitigation and Product Development. All experiments were conducted at the Titan America Structures and Construction Testing Laboratory at FIU. The authors would like to thank Dr. Emil Simiu for valuable comments and suggestions. Juan Cesin and Andres Urrego are acknowledged for assisting with the tests. The opinions expressed are those of the writers alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsors.
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Information & Authors
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Published In
Journal of Composites for Construction
Volume 20 • Issue 2 • April 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 5, 2014
Accepted: Jun 12, 2015
Published online: Sep 8, 2015
Discussion open until: Feb 8, 2016
Published in print: Apr 1, 2016
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