Post-tension cable wall stabilization

Abstract

Provided herein are masonry structures, including walls, which are disposed upon a footing having a re-bar disposed longitudinally therethrough. The masonry structures of the invention include vertical bores disposed along their lengths, and include tensioned cables which extend through a first vertical bore, are spirally wound about the re-bar, and also extend through a second vertical bore such that the end portions are rigidly anchored in position near the top course of masonry units used in constructing the structures, and wherein the tensioned cables are under a relatively high mechanical tension. By staggering a plurality of tensioning cables, structures comprising a plurality of masonry units of enhanced structural stability over structures of prior art are provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates generally to architectural structures. More particularly, it relates to wall structures made from masonry materials, including natural stone, and to means for increasing the stability of such structures. BACKGROUND [0002] Wall structures made from masonry materials have been in use for centuries, with the famous Great Wall of China being a prime and popular example. Thus, it is well-known in the art to stack stones or like materials atop one another to provide wall structures, which structures may be from a few meters in length to several miles, and may vary in height from a few centimeters to several meters or more. Often, it is deemed desirable to employ a cementitious substance between layers of masonry materials such that the cementitious substance is in contact with successive layers and even between adjacent stone or masonry units, in order to add strength to the structure as a whole. For this use, mortars and grouts made from mate...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006] The present invention provides architectural structures comprising: a) a footing portion having a portion which extends in a substantially-linear direction; b) a re-bar disposed within the footing portion; c) a plurality of courses of masonry units stacked upon on e another so as to form a wall structure having a top course, bottom course, and a length dimension, the wall structure being disposed above the footing portion. A portion of the masonry units include a vertically-oriented bore disposed through them, and are arranged in a manner sufficient to provide a plurality of vertical bores extending through the wall structure at periodical distances along the length dimension of the wall. The vertical bores extend from the footing portion and through at least the 3 lowermost courses of masonry units of the wall structure. There are also a plurality of tensioning cables, wherein each tensioning cable comprises: a first end portion; a second end portion; and a mid portion. The tensioning cables each further comprise: i) a first vertical portion extending through one of the vertical bo

Problems solved by technology

Many workers in the prior art have realized that merely stacking stones atop one another to form a wall structure, even when grouts or mortars are employed to join the stones, does not yield a finished structure having as strong of structural integrity as is often perceived as necessary or desired.

Images