In conventional construction practices, roof-parapet junction structures inevitably disrupt the insulation installation's continuity, leading to energy loss and thermal bridging. To address this issue, parapet thermal breaks were installed to interrupt the heat flow between the roof and the parapet, effectively preventing thermal bridging and energy loss and thereby reducing overall energy loss in buildings. This study equipped three experimental specimens with the developed parapet thermal breaks to verify their structural performance. These specimens were subjected to unidirectional loading under displacement-controlled conditions. The structural performance of these insulation structures was evaluated by comparing and analyzing the test results with corresponding analytical studies conducted using a finite element analysis program. In addition, five analytical models with varying parameters of the parapet thermal breaks were developed and compared against the baseline model. Consequently, the most efficient shape of the parapet thermal break was determined.

The precast concrete (PC) method allows for simple assembly and disassembly of structures; however, ensuring airtight connections is crucial to prevent energy loss and maintain optimal building performance. This study focuses on the analytical investigation of the shear capacity of precast ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) ribs combined with standard concrete PC cladding walls. Five specimens were tested under static loading conditions to evaluate their structural performance and the thermal behavior of the UHPC rib shear keys. Test results indicated that the specimens exhibited remarkable structural performance, with shear capacity approximately three times greater than that of standard concrete. Numerical models were subsequently developed to predict the shear capacity of the shear keys under various loading conditions. A comparison between the experimental results and finite element (FE) models showed a maximum strength difference of less than 10% and a rib displacement error of up to 1.76 mm. These findings demonstrated the efficiency of the FE model for the simulation of the behavior of structures.

In this study, the structural performance of the specimen fabricated through 3D printing was evaluated through monotonic loading experiments analysis to apply to 3D printed structures. The compression and flexural experiments were carried out, and the experimental results were compared to the finite element model results. The loading directions of specimens were investigated to consider the capacity of specimens with different curing periods, such as 7 and 28 days. As a result, the strength tended to increase slightly depending on the stacking direction. Also, between the 3D-printed panel composite and the non-reinforced panel, the bending performance depended on the presence or absence of composite reinforcement.