Polystyrene Interjoist with Steel Z-Section Stiffeners
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing interjoists made of polystyrene struggle to meet mechanical strength requirements while maintaining a reduced thickness, leading to increased beam height and weight penalties.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating Z-section angle iron stiffeners made of higher resistance materials, which are molded with the polystyrene body and feature transverse ribs and holes for enhanced anchoring, to increase cohesion and mechanical strength of the spouts without increasing thickness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the interjoist is made of polystyrene to provide thermal insulation, then the thermal insulation performance is improved, but the mechanical strength is insufficient requiring increased thickness
Solution Approach 1:
The interjoist combines polystyrene body with steel stiffeners to create a composite structure. The polystyrene provides thermal insulation while the steel stiffeners provide mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between thermal insulation performance and mechanical strength requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The interjoist is divided into functional segments: the polystyrene body for thermal insulation and the steel stiffeners for mechanical reinforcement. This segmentation allows each material to perform its optimal function without compromise.
2Strength
If the thickness of the spout is increased to improve mechanical strength, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the beam height and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
By incorporating steel stiffeners within the polystyrene spout, the structure achieves high load-bearing capacity without increasing overall thickness. The steel reinforcement provides strength while the thin polystyrene outer layer maintains lightweight characteristics, avoiding beam weight penalties.
Solution Approach 2:
The steel stiffeners are strategically positioned within the spout structure where mechanical strength is most needed. This localized reinforcement provides high strength-to-weight ratio, improving load-bearing capacity without uniformly increasing thickness throughout the entire spout.
3Reliability
If the keying height is increased to meet minimum requirements for prestressed beams, then the connection function is improved, but the beam height increases
Solution Approach 1:
The steel stiffeners extend into the keying region, providing mechanical reinforcement that enables the spout to achieve minimum keying height requirements without increasing overall beam height. The composite structure maintains connection reliability while minimizing beam height penalties.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The floor unit (1) has a body (2) made of low density material and provided with two longitudinal edges (6, 7) with nozzles (13, 17) extending transversely. The nozzles are supported on inverted T-section-type beams. Stiffeners (19, 21) are made of material having strength higher than that of the body of the unit. The stiffeners are arranged to increase cohesion of the nozzles with the body of the unit, where the stiffeners are in a form of Z-section defining an upper portion. The stiffeners are made of plastic.