Panelized construction of residential buildings is gaining popularity due to the architectural and energy efficiency benefits that can be achieved. An important challenge to the design of panel structures for buildings is the balance between long-term structural performance and the thermal insulating requirement. In this study, foam core and web core panels are designed for residential roofs. Both panels are comprised of two face sheets and an insulating foam core. In the web core panel, thin metal webs that connect the face sheets are added to improve panel shear stiffness and enable longer spans. A design procedure is developed that considers R-value, panel deflection, core shear failure, bearing failure, and buckling of the face sheets and webs. The buckling model includes the ability of the foam core stiffness to restrain the buckling deformation. Panel designs are presented that provide R-5.3 m² K/W for roof loads of 1500, 2000, and 3000 N/m², corresponding to climate zones in the US. It is demonstrated that the web core panel can be designed for these structural and thermal requirements with unsupported span lengths as long as 7 m, while span lengths for foam core panels are limited to 4 m. Web shear buckling and R-value are the two performance criteria that limit panel span length and depth.

Polypropylene random copolymers (PP-R) are common materials for pressurized hot water pipes. In many pipe systems, potable water is disinfected by chlorine to prevent waterborne diseases. This paper deals with hot chlorinated water induced aging of two PP-R grades with varying morphology. One material had a conventional monoclinic α crystal form (PP-Rα), whereas the other was explicitly beta-nucleated resulting in a trigonal β crystal form with a fine spherulite structure (PP-Rβ). Micro-sized specimens with a thickness of 100 µm were used for aging experiments at 60 °C in chlorinated water with 5 mg/L free chlorine, and aging indicators were monitored for exposure times of up to 2000 h. On the other hand, superimposed mechanical-environmental tests were carried out by using cracked round bar specimens with a diameter of 14 mm to determine the fatigue crack growth (FCG) resistance of both PP-R grades at 60 °C in non-chlorinated and chlorinated water. PP-Rβ was found to outperform PP-Rα with an about 30% higher time-to-embrittlement value of 2000 h. Furthermore, PP-Rβ exhibited an enhanced FCG resistance in both non-chlorinated and chlorinated water. The effect of chlorine content on the deterioration of the FCG resistances was significantly more pronounced for PP-Rα.

Solar hot water and space heating systems constructed of commodity polymers have the potential to reduce the initial cost of solar thermal systems. However, a polymer absorber must be prevented from exceeding its maximum service temperature during stagnation. Here, the addition of a thermotropic material to the surface of the absorber is considered. The thermotropic layer provides passive overheat protection by switching from high transmittance during normal operation to high reflectance if the temperature of the absorber becomes too high. A one dimensional model of a glazed, flat-plate collector with a polymer absorber and thermotropic material is used to determine the effects of the optical properties of the thermotropic material on the optical efficiency and the stagnation temperature of a collector. A key result is identification of the reflectance in the translucent state required to provide overheat protection for potential polymer absorber materials. For example, a thermotropic material in its translucent state should have a solar-weighted reflectance greater than or equal to 52% to protect a polypropylene absorber which has a maximum service temperature of 115 °C.