Prefabricated Column Beam Bracing System for Seismic Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prefabricated post and beam construction techniques face challenges in securely connecting elements on-site, particularly with reinforced concrete, where horizontal and vertical bracings are not commonly used, leading to issues with element stability and the need for high-strength assembly rods due to potential angle changes, and in timber construction, where secure fixing of steel bars and wooden braces is necessary to prevent cracking and ensure strong bonding.

Innovation Solution

The technique involves prefabricating poles, beams, and junctions in a factory, using a system of vertical and horizontal bracings with threaded rods and notches to prevent slippage, and applying a cement mortar seal at intersections for enhanced stability, allowing for either partial or total prefabrication of junctions, including the use of metal frames and junction blocks with deep grooves for increased mechanical resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If threaded rods are used to connect braces to columns and beams, then the connection strength is improved, but the assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-drilling holes and preparing threaded rod insertion paths before final assembly. The braces are positioned and temporarily held in place, allowing threaded rods to be inserted and secured in a controlled manner, reducing the complexity of the actual connection process while maintaining strong joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The threaded rods act as intermediary elements that mediate the connection between braces and structural members. Rather than directly fastening braces to columns and beams, the threaded rods provide an intermediate connection mechanism that simplifies the assembly process while ensuring robust structural joints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If notches are provided in posts or beams for wedge fitting, then the stability against angle changes is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability against angle changesVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the structural members (posts and beams) into sections that can accommodate notches. These notches are strategically positioned to allow wedge insertion, creating discrete stabilization points that prevent angle changes without requiring complex overall structural modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The notches and wedges provide local quality enhancement at specific critical joints where angle stability is most needed. Rather than making the entire structure more complex, the notches are localized features that provide targeted stabilization at connection points while leaving the rest of the structural members simple and easy to manufacture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If a seal is applied at intersections of prefabricated elements, then the junction stability is improved, but the construction time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvejunction stabilityVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sealant is applied in advance to the intersection surfaces of prefabricated elements before final assembly. This preliminary application ensures that when the elements are brought together, the sealing function is already in place, reducing on-site construction time while maintaining junction stability and preventing moisture or air infiltration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sealant material provides self-service by automatically filling gaps and crevices at intersections through its viscous flow properties. Once applied, the sealant self-adjusts to ensure complete coverage and stable junctions without requiring additional manual intervention or complex application procedures, thus maintaining reliability while minimizing construction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Strength

If prefabricated junction blocks with deep grooves are used, then the mechanical resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical resistanceVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The deep grooves and reinforcement structures are incorporated into the junction blocks during factory prefabrication, before the blocks are shipped to the construction site. This preliminary manufacturing of complex features allows for high mechanical resistance to be achieved while keeping on-site assembly simple, as the complex structural features are already built into the blocks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex on-site mechanical assembly operations with pre-fabricated junction blocks that have integrated reinforcement and groove features. Instead of manually assembling multiple components to achieve high mechanical resistance, the entire junction block is manufactured as a single integrated unit with built-in structural features, substituting complex mechanical assembly with simpler installation processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3310973B1Construction of the prefabricated column and beam type
Publication Date: 2020.03.25 NITUNGA LIBERE
  • EP3310973B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3310973B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP3310973B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a construction system for high-level prefabrication of building structures of the column and beam type, such prefabrication enabling this type of construction to be industrialized. The main development that makes it possible to achieve this objective under the same, if not better, technical conditions as with the conventional system is the large-scale use of vertical and horizontal braces. Such a construction system is of particular benefit in areas of high seismic risk, since the building is very light, made up of a set of structurally self-supporting units, highly triangulated and thus not easily deformed, all at a relatively low cost.