Basalt Fiber Composite Bracket for Ventilated Façade

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing brackets for ventilated façades lack sufficient mechanical strength and high thermal insulation, often relying on discontinuous materials and single-direction reinforcing fibers, which limits their mechanical performance and thermal conductivity.

Innovation Solution

A bracket with a unique transverse cross-sectional shape resembling a hollow quadrangle or elongated rectangle, made from polymeric materials with basalt reinforcing fibers oriented in different directions, providing enhanced mechanical strength and low thermal conductivity by using thermosetting or thermoplastic composite materials with additional surface reinforcement layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If metal brackets are used for ventilated façade, then high mechanical strength is achieved, but thermal conductivity is too high

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical strengthVSAvoidthermal conductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by combining polymeric matrix with basalt fibers to create a bracket that achieves high mechanical strength while maintaining low thermal conductivity. The composite structure allows the polymer to provide thermal insulation and the basalt fibers to provide reinforcement, resolving the contradiction between strength and thermal insulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by orienting basalt fibers in specific directions within the polymer matrix. The fibers are arranged to provide maximum strength in critical areas while the polymer matrix maintains low thermal conductivity throughout, allowing different regions of the bracket to have optimized properties for their specific functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If discontinuous material with thermal insulation layer is used, then low thermal conductivity is achieved, but mechanical strength is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal conductivityVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a unified composite material system where basalt fibers are embedded in a polymeric matrix, forming an integrated structure that simultaneously provides both mechanical strength and thermal insulation properties, eliminating the need for separate insulation layers and achieving better overall performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the structural and insulation functions into a single integrated bracket component. The polymeric matrix with embedded basalt fibers combines the load-bearing function with the thermal insulation function, eliminating the need for separate insulation layers and achieving better overall performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If reinforcing fibres are oriented in one direction, then manufacturing is simplified, but mechanical strength is not maximized

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidmechanical strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution achieves both high mechanical strength and low thermal conductivity, effectively retaining façade panels while minimizing thermal energy transfer between exterior and interior building elements.

Implementation Method 1

The bracket is made of a polymeric material by embedding a reinforcing fibre made of basalt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectComposite materials: Composite Materials

Implementation Method 2

Used polymeric materials have significantly lower thermal conductivity than thermal conductivity of a currently used metal

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal insulation: Thermal Insulation

Data Source

PatentEP3495583B1Bracket for ventilated facade

Publication Date: 2024.02.14 SERFAS

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AI summary

The present invention provides a bracket for ventilated façade with improved mechanical strength characteristics suitable for use in structures for ventilated façade, but at the same time it has a significantly lower thermal conductivity, which ensures a better thermal performance of the building. The transverse cross-sectional shape of the provided bracket resembles a rectangle with one partially removed border, its middle parts, i.e. the shape resembles the "[_]" shape. Such transverse cross-sectional shape provides better mechanical strength characteristics without increasing the transverse cross-sectional area. The provided bracket is formed using composite materials, polymeric resins, which are reinforced with fibres; in the present invention, fibres are made using basalt. Such material of the structure of the bracket ensures low (compared to the normal metal) thermal conductivity. Reinforcing fibres of different orientation are used to further increase mechanical strength. In the present invention, longitudinal fibres are used, and then they are coated with a mat or fabric layer, if needed, it is further coated with a veil.