Lightweight Lime-Fiber Wall Structure for Load-Bearing and Breathability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building structures, such as prefabricated slabs and in situ constructed walls, lack rigidity for load-bearing functions, have poor breathability, and are not flame retardant, while conventional methods using reinforced concrete are not environmentally friendly.
Innovation Solution
A process involving a wooden skeleton formed into a cage, combined with a lightweight conglomerate mixture of mineral inert materials, hydraulic lime, and vegetable fibers, poured into formwork on-site to create a rigid, breathable, and flame-resistant wall structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If prefabricated slabs with two wooden panels and filling material are used, then thermal insulation is improved, but structural rigidity and load-bearing capacity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite filling material consisting of hydraulic lime binder, granular inert material (such as expanded perlite, vermiculite, or pumice), and vegetable fibers. This composite composition provides both thermal insulation properties and structural rigidity, resolving the contradiction between insulation and strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the filling material by using hydraulic lime with specific characteristics (fat or very fat lime) and controlling the water-to-binder ratio. These parameter changes enable the material to achieve both insulating properties and sufficient rigidity for load-bearing applications.
2Strength
If two wooden panels are used to define opposite faces of the wall, then structural support is improved, but breathability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the two wooden panels from the wall structure, keeping only the essential structural elements (U-profiles and uprights). This extraction eliminates the panels that blocked breathability while maintaining sufficient structural support through the remaining framework and rigid filling material.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses porous granular inert material (such as expanded perlite, vermiculite, or pumice) as the filling material. These porous materials allow moisture vapor to pass through the wall structure, improving breathability while maintaining structural integrity.
3Strength
If conventional reinforced concrete is used, then structural strength is improved, but environmental compatibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material composition parameters by replacing cement-based concrete with hydraulic lime-based conglomerate. This substitution reduces the carbon footprint and improves environmental compatibility while maintaining structural strength through optimized lime binder properties and aggregate selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite material system combining hydraulic lime, lightweight aggregates, and vegetable fibers. This composite approach provides structural strength comparable to reinforced concrete while being environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and having lower embodied energy.
4Adaptability or versatility
If in situ construction method is used, then adaptability is improved, but construction time deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs U-profiles with pre-formed cavities and integrated reinforcement elements that are prepared in advance. These pre-prepared components allow for rapid assembly on site, reducing construction time while maintaining the adaptability of in situ construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the wall structure into modular segments using U-profiles and uprights that can be assembled independently. This segmentation allows for parallel construction of different wall sections, reducing overall construction time while maintaining flexibility in layout adaptation.
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
The process results in a wall with high compressive strength, excellent thermal and sound insulation, and good breathability, meeting green building requirements while avoiding heat bridges, suitable for load-bearing applications in low-rise buildings.
Implementation Method 1
a lightweight conglomerate mixture of mineral inert materials, hydraulic lime, and vegetable fibers, poured into formwork on-site to create a rigid, breathable, and flame-resistant wall structure
Implementation Method 2
The process results in a wall with high compressive strength, excellent thermal and sound insulation
Implementation Method 3
excellent thermal and sound insulation
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
To obtain a building structure (6), a housing (5) is provided with an internal skeleton (7); a light conglomerate (4) is poured into the housing (5), so as to bury the skeleton (7), and is then left to harden; the light conglomerate (4) is obtained by mixing water with an aggregate comprising a granular mineral inert material, hydraulic lime and vegetable fibres having hydroscopic material; the material of at least some parts of the skeleton (7) is wood.