Prefabricated Slab Frame With Interconnected Reinforcing Elements

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing prefabricated structural elements for slabs tend to deform under load, requiring reinforcement that increases weight and resource usage, leading to higher static loads on building structures.

Innovation Solution

A prefabricated structural element with a frame comprising interconnected elements, support profiles, and reinforcing elements that constrain the upper and lower flanges to prevent bending, enhancing stiffness and non-deformability while reducing weight and resource usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the frame is reinforced by using sheets with high thicknesses to increase non-deformability, then the stiffness and load-bearing capacity are improved, but the weight of the structural frame element increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenon-deformabilityVSAvoidweight of structural frame element
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into multiple frame elements (first, second, third, fourth frame elements) that are interconnected at connection portions. Each frame element contains flanges and reinforcing elements that work together to provide structural integrity. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve high stiffness through distributed reinforcement rather than requiring uniformly thick sheets throughout, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining non-deformability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame elements are formed from press-formed metal sheets with specific thicknesses (e.g., 0.5-1.5mm for lower flange, 0.3-1.0mm for upper flange), and reinforcing elements are attached to these sheets. This composite construction combines the structural support capability of the press-formed sheets with the additional stiffness provided by the reinforcing elements, achieving high non-deformability without requiring the entire structure to be made from thick material, thus optimizing the weight-strength ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If the frame is reinforced by using sheets with high thicknesses to increase non-deformability, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the natural and economic resources employed increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidnatural resources employed
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into multiple frame elements (first, second, third, fourth frame elements) that are interconnected at connection portions. Each frame element contains flanges and reinforcing elements that work together to provide structural integrity. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve high stiffness through distributed reinforcement rather than requiring uniformly thick sheets throughout, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining non-deformability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame elements are formed from press-formed metal sheets with specific thicknesses (e.g., 0.5-1.5mm for lower flange, 0.3-1.0mm for upper flange), and reinforcing elements are attached to these sheets. This composite construction combines the structural support capability of the press-formed sheets with the additional stiffness provided by the reinforcing elements, achieving high non-deformability without requiring the entire structure to be made from thick material, thus optimizing the weight-strength ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

3Stability of the object's composition

If the frame is reinforced by using sheets with high thicknesses to increase non-deformability, then the stiffness is improved, but the weight of the structural frame element increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestiffnessVSAvoidweight of structural frame element
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into multiple frame elements (first, second, third, fourth frame elements) that are interconnected at connection portions. Each frame element contains flanges and reinforcing elements that work together to provide structural integrity. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve high stiffness through distributed reinforcement rather than requiring uniformly thick sheets throughout, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining non-deformability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame elements are formed from press-formed metal sheets with specific thicknesses (e.g., 0.5-1.5mm for lower flange, 0.3-1.0mm for upper flange), and reinforcing elements are attached to these sheets. This composite construction combines the structural support capability of the press-formed sheets with the additional stiffness provided by the reinforcing elements, achieving high non-deformability without requiring the entire structure to be made from thick material, thus optimizing the weight-strength ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Weight of moving object

If the weight of the structural frame element is reduced, then the static load on the load-bearing structure is minimized, but the non-deformability and stiffness may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight of structural frame elementVSAvoidnon-deformability
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The frame is divided into multiple frame elements (first, second, third, fourth frame elements) that are interconnected at connection portions. Each frame element contains flanges and reinforcing elements that work together to provide structural integrity. This segmentation allows the structure to achieve high stiffness through distributed reinforcement rather than requiring uniformly thick sheets throughout, thereby reducing overall weight while maintaining non-deformability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The frame elements are formed from press-formed metal sheets with specific thicknesses (e.g., 0.5-1.5mm for lower flange, 0.3-1.0mm for upper flange), and reinforcing elements are attached to these sheets. This composite construction combines the structural support capability of the press-formed sheets with the additional stiffness provided by the reinforcing elements, achieving high non-deformability without requiring the entire structure to be made from thick material, thus optimizing the weight-strength ratio.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4464854A1Prefabricated structural element for the construction a slab of a building
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 BESD TECH SRL
  • EP4464854A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4464854A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4464854A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The present invention relates to a prefabricated structural element (1), for the construction of a slab (100) of a building construction, comprising: - a frame (2) peripherally delimiting the prefabricated structural element (1), defining a seat (3) inside it, and made of a plurality of frame elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) connected to each other at respective connection portions (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d), each frame element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) extends along a longitudinal direction (L1-L1, L2-L2, L3-L3, L4-L4) between the respective connection portions (40a, 40b, 40c, 40d) and along a transversal direction (T1-T1, T2-T2, T3-T3, T4-T4) directed transversal to the longitudinal direction (L1-L1, L2-L2, L3-L3, L4-L4), each frame element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) comprises: - a lower flange (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d) projecting into the seat (3) along the transverse direction (T1-T1, T2-T2, T3-T3, T4-T4), - an upper flange (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) projecting into the seat (3) along the transverse direction (T1-T1, T2-T2, T3-T3, T4-T4) and lying in an upper plane (PS), - two or more support profiles (5) configured to support at least one layer (101) of the slab (100) and fixed to the lower flange (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d) of at least one of the frame elements (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d). A characteristic of the present invention is that each frame element (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) comprises at least one reinforcing element (6a, 6b, 6c, 6d) attached to the upper flange (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) in such a way as to project outwardly from the upper plane (PS) and extending along the respective transverse direction (T1-T1, T2-T2, T3-T3, T4-T4) towards the cavity (3) to link the upper flange (42a, 42b, 42c, 42d) to the lower flange (41a, 41b, 41c, 41d). [Figure Sa]