Building Pillar Connection Node for Structural Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building construction methods fail to achieve real structural continuity between pillars and beams, as supporting plates protrude from the pillar bulk, leading to incomplete interconnection and reduced structural solidity.
Innovation Solution
A connection pillar with metal reinforcement and connection means, including horizontal metal plates with vertically branching uprights, allowing horizontal structural elements to rest inside the pillar, ensuring proper interconnection and structural continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If supporting plates protrude from the pillar bulk to support beams, then easy and safe installation of bearing elements is achieved, but real structural continuity and proper interconnection between pillar and beam are not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The beam is positioned inside the pillar bulk rather than having supporting plates protrude outward. The beam ends are received within the pillar's internal space, creating a nested configuration where the beam is contained within the pillar volume, achieving both secure installation and true structural continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the supporting structure protrude outward from the pillar to support the beam, the invention inverts the approach by having the beam fit inside the pillar bulk. This reversal of the traditional configuration allows the beam to be supported from within, achieving proper interconnection while maintaining installation ease.
2Device complexity
If beams remain outside the pillar bulk with protruding supporting plates, then simple connection structure is achieved, but structural solidity and proper interconnection are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The beam ends are received within the pillar's internal bulk, creating a nested arrangement where the beam is contained within the pillar. This nested configuration provides superior structural solidity compared to external connections, while the internal geometry is designed to maintain construction simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection utilizes a composite arrangement of concrete pillar bulk and steel beam elements, where the beam ends are embedded within the concrete matrix. This composite configuration enhances structural solidity by combining the compressive strength of concrete with the tensile strength of steel in an integrated manner.
3Ease of operation
If supporting plates protrude from the pillar, then connection means are easily accessible for installation, but the beam remains physically disconnected from the pillar bulk
Solution Approach 1:
The beam ends are positioned inside the pillar bulk, creating a nested configuration where the beam is contained within the pillar's internal space. This arrangement ensures physical interconnection through embedding while maintaining installation accessibility through properly designed internal connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The pillar is pre-formed with internal cavities or spaces designed to receive the beam ends. This preliminary preparation of the internal geometry allows for easy insertion and connection of the beam while ensuring proper physical interconnection within the pillar bulk, eliminating the need for protruding supporting plates.
Data Source
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AI summary
Connection pillar (11) for building constructions comprising at least a metal reinforcement possibly incorporated in a concrete mix and provided with connection members (16) able to define a structural node (10) by connection to one or more horizontal structural elements (12). The connection members (16) comprise at least a horizontal metal plate (17, 20) solid with the metal reinforcement and from which two metal uprights (19, 21) branch off vertically, protruding with respect to the metal reinforcement. The two metal uprights (19, 21) are substantially parallel to each other and offset with respect to a median transverse plane passing through the center-line of the metal plate (17, 20), so as to define two supporting zones in each of which one of the horizontal structural elements (12) is able to rest.