Composite Concrete Beam with L-Section Steel Profiles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current precast concrete beams are less competitive compared to cast-in-place structures due to downdropping, increased floor depth, high steel consumption, and poor fire resistance, while steel beams are expensive and have poor fire performance.
Innovation Solution
A wide concrete beam design with longitudinal and transverse reinforcements, featuring L-section steel profiles for composite corbels that reduce deflections, allow for flat soffits, and enhance structural performance without increasing thickness, supported on both sides of the column to minimize reinforcement collisions and optimize load transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If precast concrete beams are used, then manufacturing cost and ease of manufacture are improved, but deflection increases and floor depth increases due to downdropping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines precast concrete with steel profiles to create a composite beam structure. The steel profiles are embedded in the concrete beam, creating a composite section that leverages the high compressive strength of concrete and the high tensile strength and stiffness of steel. This composite action significantly reduces deflection while maintaining the manufacturing advantages of precast concrete beams.
2Ease of manufacture
If precast concrete beams are used, then manufacturing cost is improved, but floor depth increases due to downdropping
Solution Approach 1:
The steel profiles embedded in the precast concrete beam create a composite structure that increases stiffness and reduces long-term deflection. This allows the beam to maintain its structural performance with a reduced depth, eliminating the need for excessive downdropping and enabling flatter floor designs while keeping manufacturing costs low.
3Strength
If steel beams are used, then structural capacity and fire resistance are improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite beam where concrete and steel work together structurally. The concrete provides fire resistance and compressive strength, while the embedded steel profiles provide tensile strength and stiffness. This composite action achieves the structural capacity and fire resistance of steel beams at a lower cost by utilizing the advantages of both materials rather than using steel alone.
4Length of moving object
If steel beams are used, then span capacity is improved, but cost and fire protection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The embedded steel profiles in the precast concrete beam create a composite section with enhanced span capacity. The steel provides the tensile strength needed for long spans while the concrete provides fire resistance and compressive support. This eliminates the need for additional fire protection measures on steel beams and reduces overall cost while maintaining long span capability.
Data Source
AI summary
A concrete beam includes longitudinal reinforcements so that the cross section cuts through the longitudinal reinforcements and includes transverse reinforcements that surround the longitudinal reinforcements, and at one end a rectangular recess for the fitting and support of the end of the beam on a column. The cross-section includes at each end of the beam according to the transverse direction a lower extension that define in the beam longitudinal flanges for the support of prefabricated floor elements, the beam being provided at each end of a steel profile with an L-section having a first flange arranged on the lower extension and a second flange joined to the transverse reinforcements. Also related is a construction system having a column, a prefabricated slab element, and the beam.