Flexible Membrane Bracing for Structural Shear and Water Resistance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional building codes require structures to resist lateral forces such as wind and seismic loads, but traditional rigid panel sheathing has limitations in flexibility and shear capacity, and existing water-resistive barriers lack structural bracing capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A flexible membrane, made from materials like spun bound polypropylene, fiberglass, or carbon fiber, is attached to building frames to provide structural membrane bracing, offering shear capacity and acting as a water-resistive barrier, thus replacing traditional rigid panels and enhancing racking resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If rigid panel sheathing is used to provide structural bracing, then shear capacity and racking resistance are achieved, but flexibility and weight are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear capacityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces rigid panel sheathing with flexible membrane materials that can be applied in thin layers while providing equivalent structural bracing. The flexible membrane maintains shear capacity through its attachment system to the framing, eliminating the need for heavy rigid panels while achieving the same racking resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses composite material systems combining flexible membrane materials with attachment mechanisms (fasteners, adhesives, or mechanical connectors) to create a lightweight bracing system. This composite approach allows the flexible membrane to achieve structural performance comparable to rigid panels without the weight penalty.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If rigid panel sheathing is used for structural bracing, then shear capacity is provided, but flexibility and ease of installation are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshear capacityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane can be rolled or folded for easy transport and storage, then unrolled and attached to the framing in continuous sheets. This flexibility eliminates the need to handle, carry, and maneuver heavy rigid panels, significantly improving ease of installation while maintaining structural performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible membrane allows for dynamic adjustment during installation, enabling workers to conform the material to the framing geometry and make adjustments as needed. Rigid panels lack this adaptability, requiring precise pre-cutting and fitting before installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If traditional rigid sheathing and separate water-resistive barriers are used, then structural bracing and water resistance are provided, but device complexity and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewater resistanceVSAvoidnumber of layers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the structural bracing function and water-resistive barrier function into a single integrated flexible membrane system. This eliminates the need for separate rigid sheathing panels and separate water-resistive barrier layers, reducing the total number of layers and simplifying the wall assembly while maintaining both structural and water-resistant performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible membrane is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: providing structural bracing through shear capacity, acting as a water-resistive barrier, and serving as an air barrier or vapor retarder depending on material selection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized layers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Strength

If rigid panel sheathing is used to meet building code requirements, then racking resistance is achieved, but cost and installation time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveracking resistanceVSAvoidinstallation time

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The flexible membrane can be rapidly deployed in large continuous sheets that cover entire wall sections or multiple bays in a single installation operation. This eliminates the time-consuming process of installing individual rigid panels with their associated fastening patterns, significantly improving installation productivity while meeting code-required racking resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS20240368910A1Structural membrane bracing

Publication Date: 2024.11.07 NORWOOD ARCHITECTURE INC

AI summary

Structure membrane bracing of a framing structure is achieved by mounting a flexible membrane to at least part of the framing structure using fasteners and/or adhesive. The flexible membrane is a thin sheet, such as a fabric, that may be supplied as a roll and/or as folded sheets. Unlike conventional rigid panel products, the flexible membrane is flexible in nature and may be tightly rolled or folded in a compact manner to facilitate transport and mounting. The structural membrane bracing provides a wall, floor, or roof bracing element with a nominal unit seismic shear capacity of 50 Vs (plf), or a nominal unit wind shear capacity of 50 VW (plf), or greater. The flexible membrane may also function as a water-resistive barrier, thereby removing the need for conventional water-resistive membrane layers.