External Wall System with Insulating Masonry and Strengthening Coating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing exterior wall systems face challenges in achieving thin, thermally insulating designs while being cost-effective and adaptable to various dimensions, as they often require thick, expensive materials and complex load-bearing structures.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic exterior wall system comprising a framework of structural members supporting building loads, with non-load-bearing masonry made of highly insulating mineral blocks and a strengthening coating to absorb tensile forces, allowing for efficient thermal insulation and reduced material usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If highly thermally insulating monolithic load-bearing outer walls are used, then thermal insulation is improved, but wall thickness increases and living space is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The wall system is divided into distinct functional layers: a load-bearing structural skeleton (steel or reinforced concrete) and a separate non-load-bearing insulating infill masonry. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the skeleton handles structural loads enabling thin design, while the insulating blocks provide thermal performance without adding structural weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction combining structurally strong materials (steel beams, reinforced concrete pillars) with highly insulating mineral blocks. This composite approach allows the wall to achieve both structural integrity and superior thermal insulation with reduced overall thickness compared to monolithic designs.
2Loss of energy
If non-load-bearing insulating masonry is used, then thermal insulation is improved, but tensile strength and load-bearing capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The wall system separates load-bearing functions (handled by the structural skeleton) from insulating functions (handled by the mineral blocks). The insulating masonry only needs to be strong enough to support its own weight and resist wind loads, while the structural framework carries all building loads and tensile forces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the wall system have different strength requirements. The structural skeleton members (pillars and beams) are designed with high strength to carry loads, while the insulating infill blocks require only minimal strength for self-support and wind resistance. This local differentiation of quality allows optimization of each component for its specific function.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional stone formats are used for insulating blocks, then ease of manufacture is improved, but thermal insulation performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mineral insulating blocks are produced with optimized parameters including controlled porosity (30-70%), specific density ranges, and carefully selected dimensions. These parameter changes enable the blocks to achieve superior thermal insulation while maintaining compatibility with conventional masonry construction methods and standard block handling equipment.
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
This solution enables the creation of thin, thermally efficient exterior walls that reduce heating and cooling energy consumption, utilizing conventional stone formats and minimizing material costs, while effectively transferring horizontal forces to the building's statically supporting structure.
Implementation Method 1
highly thermally insulating blocks or molded bodies
Implementation Method 2
strengthening coating, which can absorb tensile forces perpendicular to the wall plane
Implementation Method 3
transfer them to the statically supporting structure using the appropriate means of transmission
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
Thermal insulation external wall system of a building, in particular a residential building, comprising a vertical, load-bearing structural frame, the space of which is infilled with a monolithic, non-load-bearing masonry wall (1), wherein: - the infill masonry wall (1) has as its core element a non-load-bearing core masonry wall (4) made of adjacent and superimposed, mineral, porous thermal insulation blocks (2); - at least one strengthening coating (3) extending over the thermal insulation blocks (2) and enabling the absorption of horizontal forces is applied to at least one of the two broad surfaces of the core masonry wall (4) in a force-fit manner; - the strengthening coating (3) has a plaster (6) which contains reinforcement (5) ensuring sufficient flexural strength of the strengthening coating; - means for dissipating horizontal forces are located between the structural frame and the monolithic masonry wall (1).forces emanating from the masonry (1) are provided for on the supporting structure skeleton frame.