Sinuous composite connector system

Abstract

The present invention is an insulated concrete wall panel consisting of two layers of concrete with and insulating layer in between the concrete layers. A sinusoidal-shaped, fiber-reinforced composite element connects the two concrete layers. The connector is imbedded in the two layers of concrete and passes through the insulation layer. The connector provides the requisite transmission of forces merely by being consolidated in the concrete layers.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to concrete sandwich walls and, more specifically, to concrete sandwich walls wherein the two concrete layers are tied together by a sinusoidal element made of fiber-reinforced composite material. The concrete sandwich walls are both stiff and strong while providing high thermal efficiency. [0002] In a typical pre-cast concrete sandwich wall, a layer of insulation is placed between two concrete panels and the entire system is held together using some form of connecting system. Concrete sandwich wall panels are subject to lateral forces such as wind and seismic load, gravity loads, and temperature-induced forces. These lateral forces, as well as temperature differentials between the two layers of concrete induce shear forces in the connection systems as well as bending, shear, and axial forces in both layers of the panel. [0003] Concrete sandwich panels are designed as composite, partially composite, or non-composite...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] Therefore, a primary objective of the invention is the provision of an improved concrete sandwich wall that is stiff, strong, and thermally efficient.

[0016] A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a connection system for concrete sandwich walls that requires less skill and is less expensive to construct.

Problems solved by technology

Concrete sandwich wall panels are subject to lateral forces such as wind and seismic load, gravity loads, and temperature-induced forces.

These trusses, however, are susceptible to corrosion damage and have a very high thermal conductivity.

Sandwich panels made with these metal trusses therefore have a suspect service life and provide relatively low thermal performance.

Although the uncracked stiffness of such panels will be nearly the same as for a composite panel, partially composite panels will tend to crack at lower loads than composite panels.

Although composite and partially composite walls are much more efficient than non-composite walls in resisting normal horizontal forces, the connection system's enforcement of strain compatibility between the concrete layers can create undesirable behaviors.

The thermal barrier must, therefore, lead to significant temperature differentials between the two concrete layers.

While this can be primarily an aesthetic problem, it can also lead to failure of the sealant at the joints between panels.

Also, in many applications, both composite and partially composite panels have excess capacity.

Although non-composite wall panels are generally too flexible or have insufficient strength to safely resist wind loads, many composite and partially composite wall panels have excess capacity and suffer from thermal and differential pre-stress bowing.

The disadvantage of this system is that the concrete is must carry the forces, not the connectors.

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