Investigation on Behaviour of Alternate Roofing System Using Arch Panels

Roof is one of the major components of a structure, and it utilizes the significant amount of materials in its construction. The conventional RC roofing system is subjected to larger bending moment and deflection. As a result, reinforcements to be provided is also more, which leads to the increase in cost of construction and embodied energy. Hence, to tackle this problem, many alternate roofing systems have emerged. Shell roofing is one such example, bending moments developed in them are very less due to its geometry, and hence in majority of the cases, it does not require any reinforcement. The efficiency of the arch panel roofing system is analysed in this research. The arch panels were made up of concrete of strength equivalent to bricks (M10). The potential of the demolished and crushed brick waste to partially replace the fine aggregate in concrete was investigated by assessing the compressive, split tensile strength and modulus of elasticity. In order to examine the effect of rise of arch on safe load-carrying capacity, arch panels with 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, 225, 250 mm rise and 50, 60, 75 mm thickness were considered for the numerical analysis. Hence, a total of 21 different arch panels were analysed using finite element software by simulating two-point flexure test. The behaviour of full-scale arch panel roofing system of plan area of 3 m × 3 m was also analysed. The arch panel roofing system showed lesser deflection, and the stresses developed in the roof were well within the limits. Cost and energy analysis of materials used in arch panel roofing system (S-125-50) was carried out, and the results were compared with the conventional RC roofing system of same area. The arch panel roofing system proved to be cost efficient as well as energy efficient, when compared to conventional RC roofing system.