Modular Container Building Seismic and Thermal Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional container houses have limitations such as height restrictions, poor thermal insulation, quick rusting, noise issues, and lack of earthquake resistance, making them unsuitable for multi-story structures and providing a safe and comfortable living environment.
Innovation Solution
A modular container house design featuring a building body with multiple floors, accommodating spaces, and external access areas, where container houses can be moved into these spaces, equipped with furniture and appliances, and secured with a solid structure to prevent rust and enhance soundproofing and seismic safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional container houses are stacked to form multi-story structures, then construction speed and initial cost savings are improved, but height is limited to eight floors and earthquake resistance is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The building is divided into modular container units that can be independently manufactured and then assembled into multi-story structures. Each container module serves as a standardized building block, allowing flexible configuration and stacking beyond the traditional eight-floor limit while maintaining structural integrity through standardized connection interfaces designed for seismic resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction methods combining traditional container steel structures with reinforced concrete or other high-strength materials at critical connection points and structural cores. This hybrid approach maintains the prefabricated advantages of containers while incorporating materials with superior earthquake resistance and structural strength for multi-story applications.
2Ease of operation
If traditional container houses are used, then transportability and ease of installation are improved, but thermal insulation is poor causing hot summers and cold winters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nested insulation structures where multiple layers of insulating materials are placed within and around the container walls, creating a thermal envelope that preserves the easy installation benefits of prefabricated containers while dramatically improving thermal performance through layered insulation systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The container walls are constructed using composite material systems combining metal panels with thick layers of high-performance insulation materials such as polyurethane foam or vacuum insulation panels. This composite structure maintains the sleek, easy-to-install exterior of traditional containers while providing superior thermal insulation for comfortable indoor temperatures year-round.
3Loss of time
If traditional container houses are stacked, then construction time is reduced, but rusting occurs quickly due to direct exposure to external environment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary protective elements such as corrosion-resistant coating systems, galvanized steel layers, and protective cladding materials that act as barriers between the container steel and the external environment. These intermediary layers preserve the quick construction advantages of prefabricated containers while preventing direct contact with moisture and oxygen that cause rusting.
4Ease of manufacture
If traditional container houses are used, then cost is reduced, but noise from external environment penetrates directly into the interior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite wall constructions combining cost-effective container steel with acoustic insulation materials such as mineral wool or foam boards. This composite structure maintains the economical advantages of traditional container houses while the intermediate acoustic insulation layers absorb and dampen external noise, creating a quieter interior environment without significantly increasing cost.
Data Source
AI summary
An architectural structure of a modular container house includes: a building body with plural floors each having at least one accommodating space with an external opening; at least one external access area longitudinally disposed at the building body, and each accommodating space being communicated with external access area; and plural container houses, respectively and movably disposed in the accommodating spaces through the openings, and at least one side board of each container house can be spread open and placed horizontally on a ground of each accommodating space, so that the interior of each container house is communicated with each respective accommodating space.