Prefabricated Floor Panelization System for Mechanical Openings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prefabrication systems face challenges in minimizing costs, ensuring worker safety, and maximizing architectural flexibility due to high costs of non-standard parts and labor, as well as the use of repetitive and inflexible components that hinder personalized design and pose installation difficulties.
Innovation Solution
A prefabrication system comprising a floor component with a deck member and a frame component featuring horizontal support beam elements connected to vertical columns, allowing for flexible design and preassembled installation, which reduces labor requirements and creates space for mechanical openings, and a spandrel beam system that supports exterior curtain walls without increasing slab depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If traditional I-beams are used to span between column centerlines, then structural support is provided, but space for mechanical openings is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The beam system is segmented into multiple beam elements positioned at column faces rather than spanning between column centerlines. This segmentation creates open spaces between columns for mechanical openings while maintaining structural support through the distributed beam elements that connect to the column faces.
2Productivity
If prefabricated components are used to reduce labor costs, then installation time is reduced, but architectural flexibility is limited due to repetitive elements
Solution Approach 1:
The prefabricated panelization system uses universal beam elements and floor components that can be configured in multiple arrangements. The standardized components serve multiple functions and can be adapted to various architectural designs through different panel configurations, maintaining both productivity and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for dynamic configuration of prefabricated panels to create different spatial arrangements and architectural expressions. The modular nature enables the same components to be dynamically reconfigured for personalized design elements while maintaining efficient assembly processes.
3Adaptability or versatility
If beam elements are positioned at column centerlines, then structural efficiency is maximized, but design flexibility for mechanical openings is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of positioning beams at column centerlines as is conventional, the system inverts the approach by positioning beam elements at the column faces. This inversion creates the desired design flexibility for mechanical openings between columns while the beam elements still provide effective structural support by connecting to the column faces where loads are transferred.
Data Source
AI summary
A prefabrication system having a floor component and a frame component. In particular, the floor component includes a deck member, which can be made of deck sections, profiles, or panels. For example, the deck member can be made of continuous panels that cover the desired width and length of the floor component. Alternatively, the deck member can be made of preassembled sections that are combined in juxtaposed relation to form the desired width and length. The frame component includes opposing horizontal support channels that are attached to opposing vertical columns, respectfully.