Roofing structure for covering a sloping geometric surface

Abstract

A roof structure (10), designed in its operational position to conform to a geometric surface exhibiting contour lines and slope lines, comprises a framework (12) supporting monolithic panels (14) made of ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concrete. The framework (12) includes meridian beams (18) designed, in its operational position, to form rows (20) of meridian beams (18) positioned along the slope lines of the geometric surface. The monolithic panels (14) are designed, in their operational position, to form meridian rows (62) of monolithic panels (14), each meridian row (62) of monolithic panels (14) being directly placed and supported by two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) from among the rows (20) of meridian beams (18). (Shorthand figure: 2)

Description

Title of the invention: COVERING STRUCTURE FOR COVERING A GEOMETRIC SLOPING SURFACE TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a covering structure intended, in an operational position, to cover a sloping geometric surface, which may be the geometric envelope of a solid surface, for example the ground surface, or a non-material surface, in the case of a roof. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] Document FR2962461 describes and illustrates monolithic construction panels made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPC) with inclusion of glass or vitreous elements intended for the manufacture of various walls, and in particular covering walls for roofs. The panels have a triangular shape, with two large opposite sides, one shaped as a groove and the other as a nose with a shape complementary to the groove, allowing successive panels to be fitted together by their large sides. Such panels were used to form the roof of the Jean Bouin stadium in Paris, and are fixed to a frame by means of metal connecting rods intended to fix the triangular panels to the frame at their apexes. The baffles formed by the fitting between the grooves and the nose are sealed by joints.In addition to its undeniable aesthetic qualities, such a roof offers a long lifespan, thanks to the use of UHPFRC. However, without significant maintenance, this lifespan will not exceed that of the fastest-aging materials used in construction, whether joints, fixing rods or panels. Statement of the invention

[0003] The invention aims to remedy at least some of the drawbacks of the state of the art and to propose a cover which is particularly stable over time.

[0004] To this end, a covering structure is provided intended, in an operational position, to fit a geometric surface having level lines and slope lines, the structure comprising: a frame comprising meridian beams intended, in an operational position, to form rows of meridian beams positioned along slope lines of the geometric surface; and monolithic panels made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete, intended, in an operational position, to form meridian rows of monolithic panels, each of the meridian rows of monolithic panels being directly placed on and supported by two adjacent rows of meridian beams among the rows of meridian beams.

[0005] Unlike traditional concrete, which is not perfectly waterproof and has limited mechanical characteristics, so-called ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concretes (known as BFUHP or BFUP) include fiber fillers, in particular metal, polymer, glass and / or carbon fibers, and have many advantageous characteristics, including a compressive strength exceeding 110 MPa for organic fibers and 150 MPa for metal fibers, and a smooth surface condition promoting water flow. These ultra-high-performance fiber-reinforced concretes also have quite exceptional resistance over time, which gives them a very long service life. These concretes are characterized in particular in the standard NF-P 18-470 - Ultra High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concretes - Specification, performance, production and compliance (2016).The selected fiber-reinforced concrete preferably has a compressive strength greater than 150 MPa. The fiber-reinforced concrete preferably contains metal fibers.

[0006] By placing the monolithic panels directly on the two adjacent rows of meridian beams, without the interposition of interface pieces, the risks of premature aging of these interface pieces are avoided, and the aging of the structure is directly dictated by the aging of the monolithic panels and the frame.

[0007] The frame is preferably also made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete, where appropriate also with metal fibers. The entire structure is then made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete, so that its constituent elements all have a comparable theoretical lifespan.

[0008] According to one embodiment, each of the monolithic panels has a lower face and studs projecting from the lower face, at least two of the studs coming, in the operational position, into gravitational support facially against a support surface formed by a first of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams and laterally against two stops formed by the first of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams, and at least one of the studs coming, in the operational position, into gravitational support facially against a support surface of a second of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams and laterally against a stop formed by the second of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams. It is important to note here that, insofar as the monolithic panels are made entirely of UHPFRC and the studs are an integral part of the panels, the studs are also made of UHPFRC.

[0009] Because it minimizes the interfaces between the frame and the monolithic panels and does not lock all the degrees of freedom at these interfaces, the structure does not oppose differential thermal expansions and minimizes the stresses internal materials, which limits their aging.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the pads and the stops have conjugate shapes which, in the operational position, are engaged in each other so as to ensure locking of each of the monolithic panels relative to the adjacent rows of meridian beams in an upward direction perpendicular to the lower face. The structure is thus resistant to exceptional meteorological events, such as tornadoes.

[0011] To minimize the effects of temperature fluctuations on the roof, the pads, in the operational position, are free to slide on the stops in a direction parallel to the level lines while keeping the mating shapes engaged with each other. This freedom of movement also allows the structure to withstand seismic events. Similarly, the pads, in the operational position, are free to slide on the stops in an upward direction parallel to the slope lines while keeping the mating shapes engaged with each other.

[0012] Preferably, each of the monolithic panels comprises three studs and only three, which is sufficient to ensure a stable position for the panels, and makes it possible to minimize the hyperstatic nature of the interface, and therefore the internal stresses in the monolithic panels.

[0013] According to one embodiment, each of the monolithic panels of any row among the meridian rows of monolithic panels, except a lowest monolithic panel of any row, in the operational position, partially covers, without contact, a directly adjacent and lower monolithic panel of said any row, and each monolithic panel of any row, except a highest monolithic panel of any row, being partially covered, without contact, by a directly adjacent and upper monolithic panel of any row. The covering thus produced is preferable to an assembly of the monolithic panels end to end, in particular because it allows each monolithic panel to contract or expand without constraints relative to the adjacent panels.

[0014] According to one embodiment, a contactless overlap zone is defined in the operational position between any two panels of any row, the overlap zone being entirely in the open air, and in particular without the interposition of joints.

[0015] According to one embodiment, it is provided that in the operational position, each of the monolithic panels of any row among the meridian rows of monolithic panels, except the lowest monolithic panel of said any row, has an oblique lower side which extends from one of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams to the other at an angle relative to a horizontal plane and forms a projecting nose, which is inserted, without contact, into a flow channel formed along an oblique upper side of the directly adjacent and lower monolithic panel of any row and extends from one of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams to the other at an angle to a horizontal plane, the oblique flow channel and the projecting nose together delimiting a baffle entirely in the open air.

[0016] Similarly, it can be provided that in the operational position, each of the monolithic panels of any row among the meridian rows of monolithic panels, except the uppermost monolithic panel of any row, has an oblique upper side which extends from one of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams to the other at an angle relative to a horizontal plane and forms a flow channel into which is inserted, without contact, a nose which is formed along an oblique lower side of the directly adjacent and upper monolithic panel of any row and extends from one of the two adjacent rows of meridian beams to the other at an angle relative to a horizontal plane, the oblique flow channel and the projecting nose together delimiting a baffle entirely in the open air.

[0017] It can further be provided that in the operational position, the oblique flow channel opens into a meridian rainwater flow channel formed by one of the adjacent rows of meridian beams and oriented along a slope line. This organizes the flow and evacuation of water at the level of each panel, which avoids excessive accumulation of water at the level of the lower panels of the roof.

[0018] According to one embodiment, at least some of the monolithic panels have two opposite short sides each connecting one end of the upper long side to one end of the lower long side, each of the short sides forming a skirt which, in the operational position, penetrates without contact into the meridian flow channel of one of the adjacent rows of meridian beams. The skirts thus formed make it possible to position the panels laterally relative to the adjacent meridian beams, while maintaining sufficient differential thermal expansion clearance.

[0019] According to one embodiment, it is provided that in the operational position, at least two of the meridian rows of monolithic panels are adjacent, one of the adjacent rows of meridian beams supporting one of the two adjacent meridian rows of monolithic panels being a row of meridian beams common to the two adjacent meridian rows of monolithic panels, also constituting one of the adjacent rows of meridian beams supporting the other of the two adjacent meridian rows of monolithic panels. This arrangement makes it possible to use meridian beams common to two contiguous rows of panels. Preferably, the common row of meridian beams forms a flow channel oriented along a slope line and collecting at least part of the rainwater running off the two adjacent meridian rows.

[0020] According to one embodiment, the frame comprises anchoring elements provided with anchoring reliefs, each of the meridian beams in operational position being supported by two adjacent anchoring elements among the anchoring elements, engaged with the anchoring reliefs of the adjacent anchoring elements.

[0021] Preferably, at least some of the anchoring elements are a box having a cavity of at least 0.25 m3 filled with ballast. In the operational position, at least some of the anchoring elements are at least partially buried in the slope, and may, if necessary, constitute isolated footings each housed in a shaft excavation made in the slope.

[0022] According to various preferred methods of implementation, • ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete contains metal fibers; and / or • the monolithic panels are flat; and / or • at least some of the monolithic panels have a dimension greater than 4m2; and / or • in operational position, adjacent rows of meridian beams are located at a maximum distance from each other, measured at at least one measuring point and along the level line passing through the measuring point, which is greater than 4 meters. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0023] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures.

[0024] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is a perspective view of a portion of a frame of a roofing structure according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0025] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a perspective view of a portion of the roofing structure, illustrating monolithic panels covering a portion of the framework illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0026] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is a top view of a portion of the covering structure of [Fig.l],

[0027] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a section IV-IV of [Fig.3].

[0028] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] is an isometric view of a monolithic panel of the structure of the covering structure of [Fig.l].

[0029] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] is a detail VI of [Fig.4].

[0030] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] is a detail VII of [Fig.4].

[0031] For clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

[0032] The covering structure 10 illustrated in the figures is intended to cover a surface to be protected in a watertight manner, and, more specifically, to follow the contour of a geometric surface modeled by horizontal level lines and slope lines perpendicular to the level lines. This covering structure is composed of a frame 12 intended to be fixed to the ground by any means and monolithic panels 14 resting on this frame 12.

[0033] The frame 12, part of which is illustrated in [Fig.l], comprises anchoring elements 16 to which are fixed so-called meridian beams 18, aligned along the slope lines of the embankment to form rows 20 of meridian beams 18. At least some of the anchoring elements 16 are boxes having a cavity of at least 0.25 m3 intended to be filled with ballast, for example sand. The anchoring elements 16 and the meridian beams 18 are made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

[0034] Each of the meridian beams 18 is supported by two adjacent anchoring elements 16 located one above the other, engaged with the anchoring reliefs 24 of the adjacent anchoring elements. The anchoring reliefs 24 may be constituted for example by hooks inserted into openings 26 or notches formed in the meridian beams 18, with sufficient constructive play to absorb the relative thermal expansions of the materials.

[0035] The meridian beams 18 each have a meridian channel section 28 which. When the beams are arranged end to end to form a row 20 of meridian beams 18, the sections 28 open into each other from the highest beam of the row 20 to the lowest to form a continuous flow meridian channel 30.

[0036] Each meridian beam 18 further comprises at least one bearing face 32 and at least one stop 34 projecting from this bearing face 32, for the assembly of the monolithic panels 14. The bearing faces 32 of the meridian beams 18 of the same row 20 together form a bearing surface of the row 20 of meridian beams 18. In this case, two bearing faces 32 are provided for at least some of the meridian beams 18, located on either side of the channel section 28, and each carrying several stops 34, and the corresponding rows 20 of meridian beams 18 have two bearing surfaces on either side of the meridian flow channel 30.

[0037] The rows 20 of meridian beams 18 are positioned along the slope lines, respecting a spacing between two adjacent rows of meridian beams which is relatively constant, as illustrated in [Fig.3]. This spacing can be, for purely indicative purposes, of the order of 4 to 5 meters between the central axes of the adjacent meridian channels 30.

[0038] The monolithic panels 14, illustrated in particular in Figures 2, 3 and 5, are made of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) within the meaning of the aforementioned NF-P 18-470 standard. The panels are large in size, with a covering surface area greater than 4m2. They have a general shape of an irregular quadrilateral with an upper face 36, a lower face 38 opposite the upper face 36, two opposite large sides 40, 42 whose length is sufficient to span the space between two adjacent lines 30 of meridian beams 28, and two opposite small sides 44, 46 connecting the two large sides 40, 42 and having lengths that are substantially different but less than half of a large side 40, 42, for example of the order of 2 meters for one of the small sides 44 and of the order of 0.4 meters for the other 46. One 40 of the two large sides, called the upper one, forms an oblique flow channel 48 which extends over its entire length.The opposite large side 42, called the lower side, forms a nose 50 which extends over its entire length. The upper face 36 is preferably flat between the oblique flow channel 48 and the nose 50. The lower face 38 has at least three projecting fixing studs 52, having a head 54 and a transverse notch 56, as illustrated in [Fig. 5]. Each of the two opposite small sides forms a skirt 58, 60 projecting relative to the lower face 38.

[0039] In [Fig. 3], among the monolithic panels 14, there are right panels 14D and left panels 14G, depending on whether the largest 44 of the short sides is on the right or left of the panel seen from the front when the large upper side 40 is positioned above the large lower side 42. The right panels 14D and left panels 14G have shapes that are symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane of symmetry perpendicular to the largest of the short sides 44.

[0040] The monolithic panels 14 are intended to be placed on the frame 12 by forming rows 62 of monolithic panels alternating right panels 14D and left panels 14G positioned head to tail with an overlap, each row resting on two adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18. More precisely, the nose 50 of the lower side 42 of each panel 14 is inserted without contact into the oblique flow channel 52 of the upper side 40 of the next adjacent panel in the row 62, covering an outer side of this oblique flow channel 52, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 6. The baffle formed between the nose 50 of the lower side 42 of a panel and the oblique flow channel 52 of the lower adjacent panel is therefore in the open air, without the interposition of a sealing joint or other. Each row 62 of monolithic panels 14 thus has a continuous upper surface, without opening, along the slope lines. By moreover, the skirts 58, 60 formed by each of the short sides 44, 46 penetrate without contact into the meridian flow channel 30 of one of the adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18 so that each row 62 of monolithic panels 14 has a continuous upper surface extending transversely between the meridian flow channels 30 of the two adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18. The long sides 40, 42 of each panel 14 are oblique with respect to a horizontal plane, so that the oblique flow channels 48 of the upper long sides 40 of the left 14G and right 14D panels of the same row 62 of monolithic panels 14 have a slope which directs the flow alternately towards the meridian flow channel 30 of one or other of the rows 20 of meridian beams 18 supporting row 62 of monolithic panels 14.Thus, rain falling on any monolithic panel 14 flows by gravity towards the large lower side 42 of said panel 14, drips into the oblique flow channel 48 of the large upper side 40 of the panel 14 located immediately below in the row 62, then is evacuated following the slope of this oblique flow channel 48 which opens into the meridian flow channel 30 of one of the adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18. It should be noted that the monolithic panels 14 are not equipped with any static seal, since they are entirely made of BFUP.

[0041] Two of the studs 52 of each panel 14 bear gravitationally facewise against a bearing surface 32 of one of the two adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18 and laterally against two stops 34 formed on the first of the two adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams and at least a third of the studs 32 bear gravitationally facewise against the bearing surface 34 of the other of the two adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18 and laterally against a stop 34 formed on the second of the two adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18. The studs 32 and the stops 34 have conjugate shapes, as illustrated in [Fig.7], which ensures locking of each of the monolithic panels against tearing. The mating shapes are, however, oriented so as to allow the studs to slide freely on the stops in a direction parallel to the level lines.This potential lateral movement of the panels 14 relative to the frame 12 is limited by the skirts 58, 60 of the short sides 44, 46 of the panels 14, which penetrate into the meridian flow channels 30 of the adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18. Thus, each panel 14 rests by gravity at the level of at least three pads 32, and preferably only three pads 32, on the two adjacent rows 20 of meridian beams 18, with limited transverse movement in a direction parallel to the level lines, and with a form lock opposing possible tearing in an upward direction perpendicular to the panel 14.

[0042] The length of each meridian beam 18 is arbitrary, but preferably equal to a multiple of the pitch between two panels 14 of the same row.

[0043] Preferably, and as illustrated in [Fig.2], each of the rows 20 of meridian beams 18 is used to support two adjacent meridian rows 62 of panels 14, the meridian flow channel 30 then serving as a collector for water coming from the two adjacent rows 62 of panels.

[0044] Naturally, the example shown in the figures and discussed above is given only for illustrative and non-limiting purposes.

Claims

Claims

1. A roofing structure (10) intended, in an operational position, to conform to a geometric surface having level lines and slope lines, the structure comprising: - a frame (12) comprising meridian beams (18) intended, in an operational position, to form rows (20) of meridian beams (18) positioned along slope lines of the geometric surface; and - monolithic panels (14) made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete, intended, in an operational position, to form meridian rows (62) of monolithic panels (14), characterized in that each of the meridian rows (62) of monolithic panels (14) is directly placed on and supported by two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) among the rows (20) of meridian beams (18).

2. Covering structure (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame is made of ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete.

3. Covering structure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the monolithic panels (14) has a lower face (38) and studs (52) projecting from the lower face (38), at least two of the studs (52) coming, in the operational position, into gravitational support facially against a bearing surface (32) formed by a first of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) and laterally against two stops (34) formed by the first of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18), and at least one of the studs (52) coming, in the operational position, into gravitational support facially against a bearing surface (32) of a second of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) and laterally against a stop (34) formed by the second of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18).

4. Covering structure (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the studs (52) and the stops (34) have conjugate shapes which, in the operational position, are engaged in each other so as to ensure locking of each of the monolithic panels (14) relative to the adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18). in an upward direction perpendicular to the lower face (38).

5. Covering structure (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the studs (52), in the operational position, are free to slide on the stops (34) in a direction parallel to the level lines while keeping the conjugate shapes engaged in each other.

6. Covering structure (10) according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the studs (52), in the operational position, are free to slide on the stops (34) in an upward direction parallel to the slope lines while keeping the conjugate shapes engaged in each other.

7. Covering structure (10) according to any one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that each of the monolithic panels (14) comprises three studs (52) and only three.

8. A covering structure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the monolithic panels (14) of any row (62) among the meridian rows of monolithic panels, except a lowest monolithic panel of any row (62), in the operative position, partially covers, without contact, a directly adjacent and lower monolithic panel (14) of said any row (62), and each monolithic panel (14) of the any row (62), except a highest monolithic panel of any row, being partially covered, without contact, by a directly adjacent and upper monolithic panel (14) of the any row (62).

9. Covering structure (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that, in the operational position, - a contactless overlap zone is defined between any two panels of the any row, the overlap zone being entirely in the open air; and / or - each of the monolithic panels (14) of the any row (62), except where appropriate the lowest monolithic panel of said any row, has an oblique lower side (42) which extends from one of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) to the other at an angle to a horizontal plane and forms a projecting nose (50), which is inserted, without contact, into an oblique flow channel (48) formed along an oblique upper side (40) of a monolithic panel directly adjacent and lower than any row (62), the oblique flow channel extending from one of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) to the other at an angle to a horizontal plane, the oblique flow channel (48) and the projecting nose (50) together delimiting a baffle entirely in the open air;and / or - each of the monolithic panels (14) of any row (62), except where appropriate the uppermost monolithic panel of any row (62), has an oblique upper side (40), which forms an oblique flow channel (48) which extends from one of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) to the other at an angle to a horizontal plane and into which is inserted, without contact, a nose (42) which is formed along an oblique lower side (42) of a directly adjacent and upper monolithic panel (14) of any row (62) and extends from one of the two adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) to the other at an angle to a horizontal plane, the oblique flow channel (48) and the projecting nose (50) together delimiting a baffle entirely in the open air.;

10. Covering structure (10) according to claim 9, characterized in that, in the operational position, the oblique flow channel (48) opens into a meridian flow channel (30) formed by one of the adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) and oriented along a slope line.

11. Covering structure (10) according to claim 10, characterized in that at least some of the monolithic panels (14) have two opposite short sides (44, 46) each connecting one end of the upper long side (40) to one end of the lower long side (42), each of the short sides forming a skirt (58, 60) which, in the operational position, penetrates without contact into the meridian flow channel (30) formed by one of the adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18).

12. A covering structure (10) according to any one of claims preceding, characterized in that, in the operational position, at least two of the meridian rows (62) of monolithic panels (14) are adjacent, one of the adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) supporting one of the two adjacent meridian rows (62) being a row (20) of meridian beams (18) common to the two adjacent meridian rows (62), also constituting one of the adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (18) supporting the other of the two adjacent meridian rows (62).

13. Covering structure (10) according to claim 12, characterized in that the row (20) of common meridian beams (18) forms a meridian flow channel (30) oriented along a slope line and collecting at least part of the rainwater running off each of the two adjacent meridian rows (62).

14. A roofing structure (10) according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the frame (12) comprises anchoring elements (16) provided with anchoring reliefs (24), each of the meridian beams (18) in the operational position being supported by two adjacent anchoring elements (16) among the anchoring elements, in engagement with the anchoring reliefs (24) of the adjacent anchoring elements (16).

15. Cover structure (10) according to claim 14, characterized in that: - at least some of the anchoring elements (16) are boxes having a cavity of at least 0.25 m3 intended to be filled with ballast; and / or - in operational position, at least some of the anchoring elements (16) are at least partially buried in the slope; and / or - in operational position, at least some of the anchoring elements (16) constitute isolated sole plates each housed in a shaft excavation made in the slope.

16. Covering structure (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that - the ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete contains metal fibers, in particular stainless steel; and / or - the monolithic panels (14) are flat; and / or at least some of the monolithic panels (14) have a dimension greater than 4m2; and / or in operational position, the adjacent rows (20) of meridian beams (158) are located at a maximum distance from each other, measured at at least one measuring point and along the level line passing through the measuring point, which is greater than 4 meters.

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