Self-supporting sandwich panel with internal beams for floor construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Self-supporting sandwich panels are not effectively utilized for constructing floors on support constructions due to high shear forces and bending moments, which require significant thickness increases, leading to increased weight and unsuitability as floor elements.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a beam that connects the two parallel skins within the core material over a partial distance between the edges, allowing the beam to transmit and relieve shear forces near the support edges, thereby reducing the overall thickness and weight while maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the thickness of the sandwich panel is increased to withstand high shear forces, then the shear strength is improved, but the weight of the panel increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is segmented by introducing beams that divide the core material into multiple sections. These beams are positioned at locations of high shear force to provide additional structural support and shear resistance without requiring a uniform increase in panel thickness throughout.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel transitions from uniform thickness to non-uniform thickness by adding beams only in specific regions where shear forces are highest (near the supports). This local reinforcement approach provides the necessary shear strength exactly where needed while keeping the overall panel weight low.
2Strength
If the thickness of the sandwich panel is increased to withstand high bending moments, then the bending stiffness is improved, but the weight of the panel increases
Solution Approach 1:
The panel structure is segmented by incorporating beams that create multiple structural zones. These beams act as additional stiffening elements that increase bending resistance without requiring a uniform increase in core material thickness across the entire panel.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel employs local quality enhancement by positioning beams strategically in regions experiencing high bending moments. This creates variable stiffness distribution where the panel is stiffer near the supports and can be thinner in the span region, optimizing the bending stiffness-to-weight ratio.
3Strength
If the thickness of the sandwich panel is increased to withstand both shear forces and bending moments, then the overall structural strength is improved, but the panel becomes unsuitable for floor constructions due to excessive weight
Solution Approach 1:
The panel is divided into functional zones by the beams, with reinforced sections near supports for shear resistance and optimized span sections for reduced weight. This segmentation allows the panel to achieve high structural strength through strategic reinforcement rather than uniform thickening.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel implements local quality variation where the core material thickness and beam placement are optimized for specific functional requirements: thicker and more reinforced near supports for shear and bending resistance, and thinner in the span region to minimize weight while maintaining adequate performance.
Data Source
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AI summary
Self-supporting sandwich panel for construction of a floor placed on a support construction, comprising two parallel skins mutually connected by means of a layer of core material, wherein for the purpose of placing the sandwich panel on the support construction at least one of the edges of the sandwich panel is provided with at least one beam which mutually connects the two parallel skins and which extends in the layer of core material from the associated edge in the direction of an opposite edge over a part of the distance between the two opposite edges.