Composite Floor Anchor Structure for Lightweight Concrete Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete floor systems, particularly corrugated steel concrete floors, face challenges in efficiently connecting the concrete layer to the sub-floor, leading to increased weight and structural support issues due to the thickness of the corrugated steel deck.
Innovation Solution
An anchor system comprising a first portion that extends between cellulosic members of the sub-floor into the concrete layer, with an attachment structure to secure it to the sub-floor and a second portion embedded within the concrete layer, designed to distribute load and resist movement, enhancing the connection between the concrete and sub-floor layers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a corrugated steel deck is used to support concrete, then the floor structure is formed, but the deck must be thick enough to support the poured concrete weight, adding significant weight to the floor
Solution Approach 1:
The floor system is segmented into distinct functional layers: a lightweight cellulosic subfloor providing structural support, and a concrete layer providing the finished floor surface. The anchor system segments the connection function into a first portion for subfloor attachment and a second portion for concrete embedding, allowing each component to be optimized independently for weight and strength requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite floor system combining cellulosic material (wood or engineered wood products) with concrete. The cellulosic subfloor provides sufficient structural strength with much lower weight compared to solid steel decking, while the concrete layer provides the desired floor surface. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by combining materials with complementary properties.
2Strength
If the corrugated steel deck is made thicker to support the concrete weight, then the load-bearing capacity increases, but the weight of the floor increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The structural support function is segmented from the floor surface function. The cellulosic subfloor handles the structural load-bearing role with optimized thickness for minimum weight, while the concrete layer provides the floor surface. This segmentation eliminates the need for thick steel decking that would be required to support concrete directly.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite construction using cellulosic subfloor and concrete layer creates a lightweight yet strong floor system. The cellulosic material has high strength-to-weight ratio, providing necessary structural capacity without the excessive weight of thick steel decking.
3Strength
If a thick corrugated steel deck is used, then the concrete can be supported, but the structural support requirements of the building increase due to the added weight
Solution Approach 1:
The composite floor system transfers structural loads through the cellulosic subfloor to the building structure, utilizing the material's inherent strength properties. This eliminates the need for thick steel decking that would transfer excessive weight to the building's structural support system.
Solution Approach 2:
By segmenting the floor into a structural subfloor layer and a surface concrete layer, the structural support function is isolated to the cellulosic subfloor, which is optimized for strength with minimal weight. The concrete layer serves primarily as a finished surface with minimal structural contribution, reducing the overall force requirements for building structural support.
Data Source
AI summary
An anchor for connecting a concrete layer of a floor to a cellulosic layer of the floor, the cellulosic layer comprising a plurality of cellulosic members joined together in a side-by-side arrangement, the anchor including a first portion to extend between two adjacent cellulosic members of the cellulosic layer into the concrete layer of the floor. The first portion includes attachment structure to attach the first portion to one of the two adjacent cellulosic members of the cellulosic layer to attach the anchor to the cellulosic layer. An upper edge margin of the first portion is disposed within the concrete layer when the first portion is attached to the cellulosic layer. A second portion extends from the upper edge margin in a first direction that is transverse to the first portion. The second portion is spaced apart from the cellulosic layer and embedded within the concrete layer of the floor to attach the anchor to the concrete layer.