Experimental Study of the Mechanical Characteristics of Evaluated Floor Panels

Abstract

Raised access floors are widely used in commercial and industrial buildings due to their adaptability, ease of installation, and maintenance. However, conventional materials used on these floors often exhibit poor mechanical performance and pose environmental concerns. This study investigates the strength of raised access floor panels composed of gypsum, cement, and silica fume. The aim is to enhance the physical and mechanical properties while utilizing sustainable, eco-friendly materials. Laboratory tests were conducted to evaluate the density, water absorption, compressive strength, and flexural strength of the composites. Additionally, the structural performance of floor panels was assessed under compression load test. Results revealed that adding 10% cement improved compressive strength by 26.9%, while 5% silica fume increased it further by 15.5% through enhanced compactness. The panels demonstrated potential for use in sustainable raised access flooring systems, providing an eco-friendly alternative to conventional materials.

Introduction

Raised access floors became popular from the 1960s as flexible solutions for distributing power, data, and HVAC services in offices and studios. These floors offer modularity, easy maintenance, and access to cables and piping beneath.

Traditional panel materials (wood, ceramic, concrete) have high environmental impacts, prompting research into sustainable alternatives like gypsum. Gypsum is valued for its sustainability, thermal insulation, acoustic properties, and fire resistance. It can also be recycled and combined with natural fibers or additives to improve mechanical and thermal performance.

Numerous studies have explored gypsum composites reinforced with fibers, polymers, and fillers like vermiculite, silica fumes, wood sawdust, rubber particles, and agricultural waste. These additives generally reduce density and improve water resistance, flexibility, and strength.

This study focuses on gypsum-based composites mixed with cement and silica fume to produce raised access floor panels. Various mix proportions were tested for water absorption, density, compressive and flexural strength, and load-bearing capacity.

Results showed that adding silica fume and cement reduced water absorption and porosity, increased density, and significantly improved compressive (up to 10.5 MPa) and flexural strength (up to 3.3 MPa). The optimized composite panels met industry load and deflection standards, demonstrating their suitability for sustainable raised flooring applications.

Conclusion

1) The study successfully investigated the mechanical properties of raised floor panels made from gypsum modified with cement and silica fume. 2) The incorporation of 10% cement and 10% silica fume (GC10%SF) produced the most favorable results among all tested mixes. 3) Key improvements observed in the GC10%SF mix compared to the control (100% gypsum) include: • Compressive strength increased by approximately 69%, enhancing the load-bearing capacity. • Flexural strength improved by over 57%, improving the panel’s resistance to bending and cracking. • Water absorption decreased by more than 44%, indicating reduced porosity and improved moisture resistance. • Density increased, suggesting better compaction and structural uniformity. Full-scale panel tests confirmed that GC10%SF panels: • Met required standards for load capacity and deflection according to CISCA/AF guidelines. • Showed minimal permanent set, indicating good elastic recovery after loading. • The research supports the use of industrial by-products to enhance material performance while promoting environmental sustainability in construction

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Ubaid Ullah, Muhammad Yasir , Umar Aziz. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.