Flush Joist Seat Reduces Building Height and Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joist and deck floor systems in large buildings are not optimized to integrate with the building's support structure, leading to increased height and weight, and do not systematically address fire safety, acoustics, and vibration considerations.
Innovation Solution
A joist support system featuring a joist seat with a main steel plate fastened to the upper chord and a second steel plate extending downwardly to engage the support structure, resisting transfer loads, and incorporating self-aligning fasteners and corrugated decking with stand-off fasteners to reduce material usage and enhance load distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional joist and joist shoe assemblies are used, then the joist can be supported on the support structure, but the height and weight of the building increase
Solution Approach 1:
The joist seat is divided into multiple functional components: a base plate for support structure engagement, a vertical plate for load transfer, and a horizontal plate for joist support. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, reducing overall material usage while maintaining structural integrity and support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The joist seat integrates the functions of traditional joist shoes and support connections into a single welded assembly. By combining the base plate, vertical plate, and horizontal plate into one integrated component, the design eliminates redundant materials and simplifies the support system, thereby reducing building weight while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If traditional joist and joist shoe assemblies are used, then the joist can be supported on the support structure, but the building height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joist seat utilizes a three-dimensional configuration with plates extending in multiple directions (base plate on support structure, vertical plate upward, horizontal plate outward for joist support). This spatial arrangement allows load transfer through vertical and lateral pathways, reducing the need for excessive vertical height while maintaining support capability.
3Productivity
If integrated design is implemented to address fire safety, acoustics, and vibration, then system optimization improves, but design complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The joist seat is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously addresses structural support, fire safety (through material selection and assembly configuration), acoustics (through mass and damping characteristics), and vibration resistance (through rigid welding and load path optimization). This universal design approach allows a single component to fulfill multiple requirements, improving overall system optimization while managing complexity through integration rather than adding separate systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A joist support system including a joist having a joist seat at least at one end, each joist seat having a first portion fastened to an upper chord of the joist and a second portion adapted to engage a support structure and support the joist and a bearing load, and a second steel plate welded to the main steel plate extending downwardly from the main steel plate between the first and second portions, the second steel plate fastened with an upward support portion to an end portion of the joist extending inwardly adapted to resist transfer load on the joist seat, and a support structure adapted to support the one end of the joist by a portion of the joist seat.