Precast Modular Wall Exterior Skin Alignment Brackets
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Solution Overview
Problem
The conventional method of constructing building facades using precast concrete elements requires a time-consuming and skilled procedure to achieve a seamless exterior finish, as the exterior cosmetic layer, such as brickwork, needs to be constructed on site, adding to the overall build time and cost.
Innovation Solution
A precast modular wall system with an exterior skin secured to the outer leaf by brackets that allow limited planar displacement, enabling alignment of adjacent exterior skins to create a seamless finish, which is factory-produced and assembled on site, reducing the need for on-site bricklaying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional precast concrete wall sections are used with on-site brickwork construction, then a seamless exterior finish can be achieved, but on-site construction time and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The exterior skin is precast in the factory with a seamless geometric pattern, eliminating the need for on-site bricklaying. The skin is prepared in advance with all necessary finishes and patterns already in place, reducing on-site work to simple assembly and alignment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The seamless brickwork pattern is replicated through precise casting of the exterior skin in the factory. The geometric pattern on the skin copies the appearance of traditional brickwork while being manufactured with greater precision and consistency than on-site construction could achieve.
2Productivity
If precast concrete wall sections are assembled on site, then construction speed improves, but achieving alignment and seamless finish between sections becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly includes translation slots that allow the exterior skin to be dynamically adjusted relative to the wall section. This dynamic adjustment capability enables workers to align the geometric patterns across adjacent sections while maintaining construction speed, as the skin can be shifted to accommodate minor positioning variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows for parameter changes in the position of the exterior skin through the translation slots in the brackets. By changing the positional parameters of the skin relative to the wall section, precise alignment can be achieved without requiring extremely tight tolerances in the precast elements themselves.
3Stability of the object's composition
If exterior skin is rigidly fixed to the outer leaf, then structural stability is improved, but ability to adjust alignment post-assembly is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The bracket assembly creates a semi-rigid connection that provides both structural stability and adjustment capability. The translation slots allow movement during alignment while the bolted connection provides sufficient rigidity for structural support once positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from an adjustable state during installation to a fixed state after alignment. The brackets allow parameter changes in position during assembly, then provide structural stability once the skin is secured in its final position.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a precast modular wall system (10) comprising an inner leaf (12) and an outer leaf (14) secured in spaced relationship such as to define a cavity therebetween, and an exterior skin (18) secured to the outer leaf (14) by a plurality of brackets 20, 120) operable to permit limited planar displacement of the exterior skin relative to the outer leaf, and which are thus arranged to reduce on site construction time and complexity.