• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.325-333
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• 2015

Recently, thermal bridge breaker systems(TBBSs) applicable to RC slab-wall connections have been increasingly studied and proposed. This study also aims at proposing an analytic model which is applicable to predicting the flexural behavior of TBBS embedded in slabs from the initial elastic stages, yield states to ultimate conditions. The analytic models are developed by considering strain compatibility, force equilibrium and the constitutive law obtained from material test results. To verify the accuracy of the proposed analytic model, the moment-curvature relationship and change of neutral axis according to the loading states are compared with those of experimental results. Based on the comparison, it is verified that the proposed analytic model provides well predict the flexural behavior of TBBS embedded in slabs.

• Journal of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute of Korea
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.511-521
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• 2015

The thermal bridge occurring in a building influences its thermal performance and durability. The domestic typical multi-unit residential buildings suffer thermal losses resulting from thermal bridges of the balcony slab. To minimize the thermal loss between inside and outside of the balcony slab, thermal bridge breaker(TBB) systems have been developed and applied in building construction. Although thermal bridge breaker systems for reinforced concrete(RC) wall-slab joints can improve the thermal performance of a building, it is necessary to verify the structural performance of TBB systems whether they provide proper resistance for cyclic loading. In order to investigate the structural characteristics of TBB systems embedded in RC slabs, cyclic tests of wall-slab joints were performed by applying two reversed cycles at each up to 30 cycles. The test results show that the RC slabs embedding TBBS systems can present excellent structural performance and the maximum moment capacity, energy dissipation capacity and ductility of TBBs systems are enhanced compared to those of the typical RC slabs.