Segmented Structural Base for Seismic Rigidity and Energy Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Reinforced concrete and steel-framed reinforced concrete structures face challenges in achieving carbon neutrality due to high carbon dioxide emissions in construction, limited elastic range leading to structural deformation, and potential construction failures from misplaced structural slits during concrete pouring.
Innovation Solution
A structural material comprising a tension member, compression part, and fixing part, where the tension member is elongate and bears tensile force, the compression part consists of block materials arranged along the tension member, and the fixing part connects them, allowing the structure to absorb energy and prevent irreversible collapse.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reinforced concrete structure is used, then earthquake resistance and fire resistance are improved, but whole weight becomes heavy and lateral force in earthquake increases
Solution Approach 1:
The compression part is divided into multiple block materials arranged in series along the longitudinal direction. This segmentation reduces the overall weight while maintaining compressive strength, as each block can be optimized independently and the total mass is distributed across multiple lighter components rather than one large heavy concrete mass.
Solution Approach 2:
The structural material combines wood (tension member) and concrete blocks (compression part) into a composite system. Wood provides tensile strength and lighter weight, while concrete blocks provide compressive strength. This composite approach achieves earthquake resistance without the full weight of traditional reinforced concrete structures.
2Reliability
If reinforced concrete structure is used, then earthquake resistance is improved, but carbon dioxide emission in construction increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the compression part into separate concrete blocks rather than using monolithic reinforced concrete, the structure reduces the total volume of concrete required. This segmentation allows for more efficient material usage and reduces the carbon footprint associated with concrete production and construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The hybrid wood-concrete composite structure replaces a significant portion of heavy reinforced concrete with lighter wood components. Since wood has lower embodied carbon than concrete and steel, this material substitution reduces overall carbon dioxide emissions while maintaining or improving seismic performance.
3Reliability
If structural slit is disposed in concrete formwork, then non-structural wall damage is prevented, but slit material shifts or deforms due to concrete pouring pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The structural slit is formed as an inherent feature of the precast concrete block design itself, rather than being introduced as a separate component during construction. The block is manufactured with the slit already positioned and shaped correctly, eliminating the risk of misplacement or deformation that would occur if the slit were created in-situ during concrete pouring.
Solution Approach 2:
The precast concrete block acts as an intermediary element that already contains the structural slit feature. By incorporating the slit into the block design before installation, the system avoids the problem of slit material shifting during concrete pouring, as the slit is already formed in the cured block and requires no additional material placement during construction.
4Adaptability or versatility
If domestic CLT is used, then carbon neutrality and domestic material utilization are improved, but manufacturing cost increases and yield rate decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The tension member can be constructed from segmented wood components or smaller timber elements that are easier to source and process from domestic materials. This segmentation allows for more efficient utilization of domestic timber with varying moisture contents and qualities, reducing waste and improving yield rate while maintaining the carbon neutrality benefit of using local wood resources.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a structural material that can improve the compressive rigidity, suppress the crack caused by the external force, and absorb the energy of the external force, and a structural member and a structure. A structural material (1) includes a tension member (2) that is elongate along one direction and is configured to bear a tensile force when the external force is transmitted thereto, a compression part (3) that includes a plurality of block materials (5) that are arranged along the one direction of the tension member (2) and are separately disposed to face each other, the compression part (3) being configured to bear a compressive force, and a fixing part (4) that is configured to fix the tension member (2) and the compression part (3) to each other such that the stress caused in the tension member (2) is transmitted to the compression part (3). The tension member (2) is fixed to the block material (5) by the fixing part (4) so as to couple the block materials (5) to each other.