Waffle Slab Interlocking Wall with Thermal Insulation Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wall materials made from wastes or biomaterials lack strength for bearing walls, pose fire hazards, fail to address cold bridges, have complex construction processes, and are inadequate for earthquake resistance.

Innovation Solution

A waffle slab interlocking wall system comprising staggered slab columns and beams with interlocking building blocks, featuring a crisscross lattice frame structure for enhanced strength and thermal insulation, and incorporating thermal insulation layers and fire-resistant materials to prevent heat transfer and improve earthquake resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If wall materials are made from wastes or biomaterials, then environmental friendliness is improved, but strength is insufficient for bearing walls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidwall strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses composite materials by combining waste materials (such as fly ash, slag, or rice husk ash) with cementitious binders to create interlocking building blocks that achieve both environmental friendliness and sufficient structural strength for bearing walls

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent modifies the compositional parameters of waste-based materials by adjusting the ratio of waste material to binder, adding admixtures, or changing curing conditions to enhance the mechanical strength while maintaining the environmental benefits of using waste materials

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If external thermal insulation or internal thermal insulation is adopted, then thermal insulation is improved, but fire hazard increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidfire hazard

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the thermal insulation function from separate insulation layers and integrates it into the wall blocks themselves through insulation cavities or air gaps within the block structure, eliminating the need for external or internal insulation layers that pose fire risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces air gaps or inert gas-filled cavities as intermediary elements within the wall block structure that provide thermal insulation while being non-combustible, thus preventing fire spread while maintaining thermal efficiency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Temperature

If thermal insulation layers are positioned at interlayers, then thermal insulation is improved, but cold bridge problem cannot be solved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidcold bridge

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional planar insulation layers to three-dimensional insulation cavities distributed throughout the wall block volume, creating insulation pathways in multiple directions that interrupt heat flow and eliminate cold bridges at structural interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Temperature

If novel wall materials are developed, then thermal insulation and energy saving are improved, but construction process becomes complex and quality control becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal insulationVSAvoidconstruction process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the wall into modular interlocking building blocks that are pre-manufactured with standardized dimensions and insulation features, simplifying the construction process to repetitive assembly operations that are easy to quality control while maintaining excellent thermal insulation performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines multiple functions (structural support, thermal insulation, fire resistance, and interlocking capability) into a single integrated wall block design, eliminating the need for separate insulation layers and complex assembly procedures, thus simplifying the construction process while achieving superior thermal performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Adaptability or versatility

If wall is designed as separating component and external enclosure, then enclosure function is improved, but earthquake resistance is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenclosure functionVSAvoidearthquake resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates dynamic characteristics into the wall blocks through flexible connection mechanisms and energy-dissipating features that allow the wall to move and absorb seismic energy during earthquakes, transforming the rigid enclosing structure into a dynamic system that can withstand seismic forces while maintaining enclosure functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8898983B2Waffle slab interlocking wall

Publication Date: 2014.12.02 FU LIMING

AI summary

A waffle slab interlocking wall, including slab columns, slab beams, and interlocking building blocks. At least one interlocking building block is embedded in a space enclosed by at least one slab column and at least two slab beams or by at least two slab columns and at least one slab beam. The interlocking building block includes an external faceplate and an internal faceplate which are spliced by a connecting piece.