Building Support Structure with Pressurized Gas for Steel Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing height of buildings requires stronger support structures, leading to higher material consumption and construction costs, particularly for high-rise and large buildings in snowy regions, necessitating a solution to enhance structural strength while minimizing material usage.
Innovation Solution
A building support structure incorporating a rigid support body with a pressurized gas structure, such as a pneumatic or saclike membrane, which applies a vertical tension force to reduce stress concentration and enhance compressive strength, allowing for reduced material consumption without compromising structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If the height of the building is increased, then the building can accommodate more functions and serve more people, but the strength of the support structure must be increased, leading to considerable increase in steel materials and escalating construction cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a pressurized gas structure inside the support body, creating a nested configuration where the pneumatic element is contained within the structural framework. This nested arrangement allows the gas pressure to act internally on the support members, providing reinforcement without adding external structural elements, thereby reducing steel consumption while maintaining building height
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pressurized gas structure (pneumatic system) as the active element within the support body. The pressurized gas generates outward pressure on the internal surfaces of the support members, creating tensile stresses that counteract compressive loads, thereby enhancing the load-bearing capacity of the structure with minimal material usage
2Area of stationary object
If a low height but very large building such as an arena is constructed in a snowy region, then the building can serve large-scale functions, but the support structure must be strong sufficient to bear a lot of snow piled up on its roof, resulting in considerably increased steel consumption and escalating construction cost
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurized gas structure is nested within the wide-span support body, allowing the pneumatic pressure to distribute loads across the large area without requiring additional external bracing or reinforcement. This internal pressurization system provides uniform support across the entire structure, reducing the need for extensive steel framing
Solution Approach 2:
The pressurized gas generates sustained outward pressure on the support members, creating a state of pre-stress that enhances the structure's ability to resist snow loads. This pneumatic reinforcement allows the large-area building to bear heavy snow accumulation without proportionally increasing steel consumption
3Ease of manufacture
If general buildings use conventional support structures, then the construction is straightforward, but the consumption of steel materials for the support structure must be saved to reduce the cost of construction
Solution Approach 1:
The pressurized gas structure is integrated within the existing support body configuration, maintaining the external simplicity of conventional structures while adding internal pneumatic reinforcement. This nested approach allows standard construction practices to be used for the outer framework while the internal gas pressure provides the additional strength needed to reduce overall material consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the support system by introducing pressurized gas, transforming the structure from a purely passive mechanical system to an active pressurized system. This parameter change enables the structure to achieve higher strength-to-weight ratio, reducing steel consumption while maintaining ease of construction through standard framing techniques
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 pressurized gas structure effectively enhances the compressive strength of the support body, enabling the construction of strong buildings with reduced material usage, thereby lowering construction costs while maintaining structural integrity.
Implementation Method 1
a pressurized gas structure (including a pressurized air structure, namely pneumatic structure) which is provided in the support body
Implementation Method 2
a pressurized gas structure which is provided in the support body so as to apply a vertical tension force or vertical tension load to the support body
Data Source
AI summary
A building support structure has a rigid support body for supporting a building, and a pressurized gas structure provided in the support body. The pressurized gas structure is provided in the support body so as to apply a vertical tension force to the support body. The pressurized gas structure may be a pressure chamber which is provided in the support body, or a saclike membrane. The saclike membrane is connected to the support body under a vertical compression force which is applied by the support body, thereby the saclike membrane applies a vertical tension force to the support body.