Prestressed Dry-Assembled Glassblock Panels for Translucent Façades

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional wet assembly systems for glassblock panels are unsuitable for constructing high-rise building envelopes due to stress issues caused by horizontal forces like wind, leading to flexural deformations, and existing dry assembly systems are primarily designed for indoor applications rather than façades.

Innovation Solution

A dry assembly system using prestressed glassblocks with plastic profiles and steel rods to provide mechanical resistance, allowing for the construction of translucent building envelopes with integrated Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells (DSCs) that can withstand external forces, including wind and earthquake actions, while enabling assembly in a factory rather than on-site.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If wet assembly system with mortar and steel rods is used, then glassblock panels can be assembled, but the panels suffer from flexural deformations under horizontal wind forces and are unsuitable for high-rise building envelopes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical resistanceVSAvoidresistance to flexural deformations

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The panel is segmented into modular glassblock units that are dry-assembled, allowing each block to independently bear loads and reducing cumulative flexural deformations across the entire panel structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Steel rods are pre-installed within the glassblock panels during factory production, creating a prestressed structure that is then dry-assembled on-site, eliminating the need for post-installation grouting and ensuring immediate structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional wet assembly system is used, then glassblock panels can be constructed, but construction time is extended and on-site assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly processVSAvoidconstruction time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Glassblock panels are pre-assembled in a factory setting with steel rods and mortar already in place, creating complete modular units that are then rapidly installed on-site through simple dry assembly, significantly reducing on-site construction time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The construction process is segmented into factory production of individual panels and on-site assembly of complete modules, separating complex manufacturing tasks from simple installation tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Ease of operation

If existing dry assembly systems are used, then panels can be assembled, but they are designed for indoor applications and lack the mechanical resistance required for façade construction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveassembly methodVSAvoidmechanical resistance for external façades

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system combines glassblock units with integrated steel reinforcement rods and dry-assembled connecting elements, creating a composite structure that maintains the aesthetic and functional properties of glassblocks while providing the mechanical strength required for external façade applications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system offers high mechanical resistance and efficient energy production, reducing construction time and costs, while allowing for modular and aesthetically customizable façades that can function effectively in various light conditions.

Implementation Method 1

The panel is made of dry-assembled glassblocks, both traditional or integrated with PV modules, and is provided with a supporting structure made of plastic material and prestressed in the prevalent panel dimension with steel rods

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPrestress: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

A DSC works by optical molecular excitations, electrons and ions transfers, with a process that mimics the plants photosynthesis

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical molecular excitations: Photosynthesis

Implementation Method 3

The photoactive dye molecules are absorbed on the TiO2 surface, constituting the photoanode of the DSC device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS9640329B2Hybrid solar cells integrated glassblock and prestressed panel made of dry-assembled glassblocks for the construction of traslucent building envelopes

Publication Date: 2017.05.02 ROSSELLA CORRAO

AI summary

A hybrid solar cells integrated glassblock structure, includes, at least one glass shell (0) having at least a light transparent surface (2, 9, 13) intended to be exposed to solar radiations, a Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSC) device (3, 8) associated to the surface (2, 9, 13) so as to receive solar radiations passing through the surface, the device having electric contacts, at least one hole (7, 11, 15, 17) allowing passage to an external area of the glassblock of electrical connections leading to the device contacts; and a prestressed and dry assembled glassblock panel for the construction of translucent building envelope even in high-rise buildings, which may also provide high performance related to energy production and saving.