Composite Steel-Concrete Balcony Slab with C-Profile Frame
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional reinforced concrete slab structures for suspended balconies are excessively massive, requiring significant raw materials and sturdy supporting structures, which are costly and difficult to transport and install.
Innovation Solution
A composite structure comprising steel profiles, reinforcement, and concrete with integrated insulation, featuring a C-profile frame and stainless steel reinforcement, allowing for a lightweight and load-bearing balcony slab with reduced material usage and improved fire resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional reinforced concrete slab structures are used for suspended balconies, then structural strength and durability are ensured, but the slab becomes excessively massive requiring significant raw materials and sturdy supporting structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining steel profiles (C-profiles and I-beams) with concrete to create a hybrid structure. The steel provides tensile strength and structural framework, while concrete provides compression strength and surface functionality. This composite approach achieves the required structural strength with significantly reduced mass compared to traditional all-concrete slabs.
2Strength
If traditional massive concrete slabs are used, then load-bearing capacity is sufficient, but transportation and installation become costly and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The balcony slab is segmented into modular components including C-profile frames, I-beam supports, and pre-fabricated concrete sections. These modular elements can be manufactured separately, transported more easily to the site, and assembled using simplified connection methods, thereby reducing transportation costs and installation complexity while maintaining overall load-bearing capacity.
3Strength
If steel reinforcement is used in concrete slabs, then structural integrity is improved, but the mass of the slab increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite steel-concrete construction where steel C-profiles and I-beams form the primary structural framework. Concrete is then applied as a thinner layer for surface functionality and compression strength, rather than using thick concrete sections with embedded reinforcement. This approach maintains structural integrity while significantly reducing overall slab mass.
4Weight of stationary object
If the slab structure is simplified to reduce mass, then transportation and installation become easier, but fire resistance and durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The steel profile structure inherently provides fire resistance as steel maintains its structural properties at high temperatures better than unprotected concrete. The concrete layer applied to the steel profiles provides additional fire protection and thermal insulation. This composite system achieves both reduced mass and maintained fire resistance through the synergistic combination of materials.
Data Source
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AI summary
Balcony slab (1), for a suspended balcony, which comprises a matrix structure consisting of a filler substance and reinforcing steel, in which there is at least a flat surface, which forms the upper surface of the slab, and an under-surface on the opposite side to the upper surface, and wall brackets (7) for attachment to the wall and suspension points at a distance from these, in which there are tension-rod lugs (5) for suspending the balcony slab. The flat surface of the balcony slab (1) is encircled by an edge (20), which protrudes outwards from the under-surface of the slab, and in its under-surface are at least two cross-wise webs (21), which webs (21) extend over the area on the under surface delimited inside the edge (20) and are oriented outwards. The edges of the balcony slab (1) are encircled by a steel C-profile frame (2), in which the opening of the C of the profile faces in the direction of the centre of the balcony slab (1), and which forms, together with the filler substance, the edge (20) of the balcony slab (1). The tension-rod lugs (5) of the balcony slab (1) are joined by a reinforcing profile and its steel components are of stainless steel.