Tilt-Up Concrete Spandrel Assemblies and Methods

Abstract

A system and method of tilt-up or tiltwall concrete building construction using concrete spandrels cast on-site together with permanent steel columns that are integrally attached to unite the spandrels into a lightweight and versatile tilt-up assembly that is strong and durable and that can be safely and efficiently made and maneuvered into final position for cost-effective building construction, the resulting assembly also allowing for continuous horizontal spans of ribbon-like window glass with minimal obstruction, thereby maximizing visibility and natural lighting and enabling easy accommodations for architectural requirements.

Description

CLAIM OF PRIORITY TO PRIOR APPLICATION[0001]This application claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61 / 437,519, filed on Feb. 25, 2011, and Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 13 / 406,513, filed on Feb. 27, 2012, both entitled “Tilt-Up Concrete Spandrel Assemblies and Methods”, the entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference into the present disclosure.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention pertains generally to the field of tilt-up or tiltwall concrete building construction. More particularly, the present invention relates to construction methods and systems using reinforced concrete panels that are cast on-site and then tilted up to form exterior walls that are structurally sound yet aesthetically attractive.BACKGROUND[0003]After more than a century of refinement, tilt-up concrete construction is a highly cost-effective form of building construction that has long been dominant in many parts of North Ame...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This approach enables the construction of larger tilt-up wall panels with increased window ratios, cleaner architectural lines, reduced material and labor costs, and lower panel weight, enhancing both safety and cost efficiency.

Problems solved by technology

Despite the long history and widespread use, standard methods of tilt-up construction still have significant disadvantages.

For one, because tilt-up panels undergo substantial lateral and tensile loads while being tilted from horizontal to vertical and often encounter moderate impact forces while being positioned under crane suspension once complete, the size and geometry of each tilt-up panel is necessarily limited.

As a result, overall window space for any given wall panel tends to be limited, which presents multiple architectural challenges.

Moreover, once the walls are up, the spacing of the vertical concrete spans is set in stone, so to speak, which creates challenges in matching interior floor plans with the exterior window openings.

Such solutions help minimize the gingerbread-house look of typical tilt-up wall panels, but they add another layer of complexity, and the construction budget then has to pay for both the reinforced concrete and the window glass over the same outer wall portion.

Add in the extra costs for inner form materials, and it actually makes the reinforced concrete part of a windowed panel more expensive than a solid panel of the same overall outer dimensions, not to mention hidden costs such as the increased risk of structural failure.

As a result, even though a panel with window openings requires less concrete and rebar than one of the same overall size without window openings, the windowed panel is significantly more costly even before considering the glass and its mounting.

So, much of the cost-effectiveness of tilt-up construction often gets lost in trying to make architectural accommodations.

Another problem with the current method of tilt-up panel construction is the weight of the wall panels.

Wall panels constructed using prior tiltwall techniques are very heavy for their size.

Their tremendous weight makes them expensive to handle and, in turn, requires a more robust and expensive foundation.

While it is typical to construct panels that weigh more than twenty tons, the strongest of cranes and substantial temporary bracing are often required during construction.

Many other problems, obstacles, limitations and challenges will be evident to those skilled in the art, particularly in light of the literature and experiences that are known in the industry.

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