Test methods for determination of shear properties of sandwich panels

This paper presents analysis and comparison of test methods for determining transverse shear strength and shear modulus of steel-faced sandwich panels commonly used in construction. The test methods are taken from the governing European standard EN 14509:2013. Two-point loading and four-point loading test methods as well as a full-scale test method are examined. Based on extensive experimental work on sandwich panels with varying core thickness, comprising mineral wool (MW) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) and encompassing both roof and wall panels, this study provides details of the test setup for the four-point loading and vacuum box methods with which a pure shear failure is obtained. Such details are missing from EN 14509. This paper highlights that the two-point loading method fails to consistently produce shear failure, especially in thicker panels, indicating it does not accurately measure transverse shear strength. The results of the experiments conducted in this study indicate that the four-point loading and full-scale test methods provide consistent shear failure for thicker panels while yielding greater transverse shear strength than the two-point loading test in general.