Elevated Surface Tile Restraining System for Wind Uplift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Elevated building surfaces, such as decks and walkways, are susceptible to movement due to wind-induced uplift forces, which can dislodge surface tiles and create safety hazards, especially around the perimeter where uplift forces are greatest, and existing support structures often fail to meet wind resistance standards.
Innovation Solution
A support structure system incorporating elongate restraining members with a restraining element and a mounting element, attached to support pedestals, secures surface tiles by positioning the restraining element along the outer edge segments and mounting element under the tiles, providing additional stability and resistance to uplift forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If traditional support pedestals are used to elevate surface tiles, then the surface can be elevated to promote drainage and provide a level structural surface, but the surface tiles are susceptible to movement and dislodgement due to wind-induced uplift forces
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple independent components: support pedestals for elevation, restraining members with mounting elements for attachment, and restraining elements for securing tiles. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - pedestals provide height and drainage, while restraining members provide wind resistance, resolving the contradiction between elevation capability and stability under wind loads
Solution Approach 2:
The restraining members are installed beforehand to counteract wind-induced uplift forces before they can dislodge the surface tiles. The mounting elements attach the restraining members to the support structure, and the restraining elements position themselves to prevent tile movement, creating a preliminary protective action against the harmful wind forces
2Reliability
If additional restraining members and mounting elements are added to secure surface tiles against uplift forces, then wind resistance and structural stability are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support pedestals serve multiple functions: they elevate the surface tiles to promote drainage, provide a level structural surface, and serve as mounting points for the restraining members. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby improving reliability against wind forces while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting elements are integrated with the support pedestals, and the restraining members connect the mounting elements to the surface tiles. This merging of functions into a unified system allows the structure to meet wind resistance standards through coordinated action of integrated components rather than separate complex systems
Data Source
AI summary
An elevated building surface assembly including a plurality of surface tiles, a plurality of support pedestals disposed in spaced-apart relation on a fixed surface and having a support plate with a top surface operatively supporting the surface tiles in horizontally spaced-apart relation, and a plurality of elongate restraining members configured to restrict movement of the surface tile(s) in directions away from first and second adjacent support pedestals and/or relative to one or more adjacent surface tiles to advantageously limit movement or displacement of the surface tile(s) that may otherwise occur due to uplift forces (e.g., generated by winds and/or the like).