Unified Truss Construction System Panelized Wall Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional building construction methods rely heavily on concrete and structural steel framing, which are costly and inefficient, especially for managing vertical and lateral forces in multi-story buildings.
Innovation Solution
The Unified Truss Construction System (UTCS) employs standardized, light-gauge metal framed vertical wall panels and structural columns to absorb and transfer vertical and lateral forces, eliminating the need for heavy steel and concrete by using a limited number of uniquely designed horizontal truss panels and connecting plates, and utilizing computerized roll forming machines to manufacture framing members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If concrete and structural steel framing are used to support vertical loads in tall buildings, then structural strength is improved, but construction cost and material weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The building structure is divided into modular wall panels that can be independently manufactured and assembled. Each panel contains integrated framing members and sheathing, allowing the structure to be built from discrete units rather than requiring continuous heavy concrete or steel framing throughout the entire building.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction combining light gauge metal framing members with panel sheathing materials to create wall assemblies that achieve structural performance comparable to heavy steel and concrete, while using significantly lighter materials.
2Force
If heavy steel let-in bracing is used to manage lateral forces in tall buildings, then lateral force resistance is improved, but device complexity and construction time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bracing function is merged into the wall panel assembly itself through integrated diagonal bracing members that are incorporated during panel manufacturing. This eliminates the need for separate heavy steel let-in bracing systems and simplifies the overall construction process.
Solution Approach 2:
Bracing members are pre-installed and integrated into wall panels during the manufacturing process, so that when panels are assembled on-site, the lateral bracing system is already in place and requires no additional complex installation steps.
3Force
If bearing wall structures are used to support vertical loads, then vertical load capacity is improved, but construction cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing wall system is segmented into pre-manufactured wall panels that can be produced independently and then rapidly assembled on-site. This modular approach eliminates the need for time-consuming on-site construction of traditional bearing walls while maintaining vertical load capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
Wall panels are pre-manufactured with all necessary framing members, sheathing, and bracing components already installed and secured, so that on-site assembly simply requires lifting and connecting pre-prepared units rather than constructing everything from scratch.
4Productivity
If standardized structural components are used, then manufacturing efficiency is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes standardized dimensional parameters and tolerance ranges for structural components that balance manufacturability with assembly precision. By defining acceptable variation ranges rather than requiring absolute precision, the system enables efficient mass production while ensuring proper fit and function during assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
Method and system disclosed herein provides generating a three-dimensional construction grid based on a data file generated by an architectural software, wherein the three-dimensional grid includes three-dimensional position information of various structural building components; displaying the three-dimensional construction grid using a display device of a computing device; receiving information of various non-structural building components, the information including location of the non-structural building components on the three-dimensional grid; associating the non-structural building components to one or more of the structural components of the three-dimensional grid; and automatically generating a plurality of specifications for the non-structural building components.