GB1572843A

GB1572843A - Building and/or a building method using columns of cruciform section and beams

Info

Publication number: GB1572843A
Application number: GB1027277A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1977-03-10
Filing date: 1977-03-10
Publication date: 1980-08-06
Also published as: MY8300174A

Description

(54) A BUILDING AND/OR A BUILDING METHOD USING COLUMNS OF CRUCIFORM SECTION AND BEAMS (71) We, KAZUFUMI WATANABE, of 61, 3-Chome, Minamisaiwai-Cho, Saiwai Ku, Kawasaki-Shi, Kanagawa-Ken, Japan, and KAZUTERU KANAGAWA, of 18-2, Ichiban-Cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan, both of Japanese nationality, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to a building and a method of constructing the same, and more specifically to one or more storied buildings constructed with the use of columns of generally cruciform cross-section and beams, preferably of generally rectangular cross-section.

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a building comprising: a) vertical columns of reinforced precast concrete and of generally cruciform crosssection, each column having at least five longitudinal holes passing therethrough, one of which extends along the axis of the column and the others of which are distributed about said one hole and extend parallel to the axis; b) horizontal beams of reinforced precast concrete extending between the columns, each beam having a respective hole extending vcrtically through each end region; c) a respective reinforcing bar extending through said one hole in each column, each reinforcing bar being of a length substantially corresponding to the height of the building in the vicinity of the bar;; d) coupling bars extending through said one holes in the columns and through the holes in the beams, each coupling bar having a length substantially corresponding to the height of one storey of the building and being threaded at each end; e) a respective tensional connecting means in the vicinity of each reinforcing bar, which means serve to connect together the beams and transmit tensile forces to the beams; and f) a bonding agent serving to rigidly secure together the columns, beams, reinforcing bars and coupling bars.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of constructing a building, which method comprises: a) placing reinforcing bars upright in selected locations, each reinforcing bar having a length substantially corresponding to the height of the eventual building in the vicinity of that bar, and distributing at least four coupling bars threaded at each end around each reinforcing bar and substantially parallel thereof, each coupling bar having a length substantially corresponding to the height of one storey of the eventual building;; b) placing a respective column of reinforced precast concrete and of generally cruciform cross-section over each reinforcing bar such that the reinforcing bar passes through a longitudinal hole extending through the column along the axis thereof and such that the associated coupling bars pass through longitudinal holes extending through the column parallel to the axis; c) placing beams of reinforced precast concrete horizontally between the columns, holes at the end regions of the beams being located over the coupling bars; d) connecting together the beams with a respective tensional connecting means in the vicinity of each reinforcing bar for transtransmitting tensile forces to the beams; and e) pouring bonding agent into a number of gaps within the resulting structure so as to rigidly secure together the columns, beams, reinforcing bars and coupling bars.

In recent years the mechanization of the housing industry has enabled prefabricated systems of construction to win rapidly increasing popularity. Of those systems, those using precast structural members of concrete, either mass-produced at factories or made at building sites, are now widely accepted because of the many advantages they offer, including improved quality, saving of labour, shortened work period and low cost. Known systems have usually been classified into two major groups, i.e. "box-frame type reinforced precast concrete construction" and "skeleton type reinforced precast concrete construction". The former provides a wall-bearing construction in which reinforced concrete floors, walls and roofs precast in slab and panel forms at the factory are assembled by suitable joining means to fabricate buildings without the aid of any intefering columns or beams.The latter, by contrast, uses a system of beams and columns in the form of steel frames, to which reinforced precast concrete floors, walls, and roofs are secured by suitable means. These conventional systems are limited in application since they have been developed primarily for the construction of large public, industrial and office buildings. By reason of scale and economy, they have hardly lent themselves to the building of one-family homes which are generally small in size and diversified in design requirement.

In order that the present invention may be more fully understood, an embodiment of building according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of part of the embodiment comprising a column of generally cruciform section and beams; Figure 2 shows the column of Figure 1, (A) being a side view and (B) being a partially sectional plan view; Figure 3 shows one of the beams of Figure 1, (A) being a partially sectional side view and (B) being an end view; Figure 4 shows a foundation block of concrete, (A) being a partially sectional side view and (B) being a plan view; Figure 5 is a sectional view, taken along the line V-V of Figure 6, of a joint between the foundation block and beams; Figure 6 is a plan view of the joint shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the complete building; and Figure 8 is an exemplary layout of the building.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figures 2 and 3, reference numeral 2 denotes a column made of reinforced concrete precast to a shape having a generally cruciform cross-section. The length of the column 2 is equivalent to the height of one story of the building to be constructed. The column comprises a centre portion 4 (see Figure 2 (B)) and four fins 6 and has holes 7, 8 extending vertically therethrough, which holes are defined by sheaths 10 of steel. The hole 7 is formed at the axial centre of the column 2 and the holes 8, numbering four in all, are formed in the fins 6 and distributed around the central hole 7. The surrounding holes 8 are disposed at points on the same radius with respect to the column centre to provide even distribution of extemal forces to be exerted on the column.

Each fin 6 of the column 2 has a vertical groove 12 along its outer edge to guide and mate with a wall panel. The width of the groove 12 is therefore equal to or slightly larger than that of the panel to be received.

Referring to Figure 3, a beam 14 of the same material as the column 2 has a width b equal to the width a of the individual fins 6 of the column 2 and a length equal to the height of one storey of an ordinary building (e.g. between a minimum length of 3600 mm and a maximum length of 7000 mm). Holes 16 are formed vertically through both end portions of the beam 14, each hole 16 being defined by a spiral sheath 18 of steel. These holes 16 are located so that, when an end portion of the beam is placed over a fin 6 of the column 2 the holes 16 are aligned vertically with the holes 8 of the column. On the underside of the beam 14 there is formed a wall guide groove 20 having a width equal to or slightly greater than the width of the wall panel to be received.Main reinforcing bars 13 of steel embedded in the beam 14 are bent into a "U" shape and form four coupling loops 22 outside the beam.

The construction of the building is carried into practice in the following way. As shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, and specifically in Figure 4, a reinforced concrete base 24 is placed in a block form on an underground foundation bed of rubble or crushed stone 25.

The concrete base 24 is reinforced with steel bars in known manner. At the same time, a reinforcing bar 28 of length equal to or slightly less than the height of the building to be fabricated is held upright and embedded at its lower end in the concrete base 24, at the point at which the central hole 7 of the column 2 is to be disposed.

Also, four anchor bolts 26 slightly longer than the height h of the beam 14 are inserted into and made fast to the concrete base 24.

at points at which the four surrounding holes 8 in the fins 6 of the column 2 are to be disposed, which points are distributed around the reinforcing bar 28. Next, four footing beams 14a of the same construction as the beams 14 are laid over the concrete base 24, end to end and generally cross-wise as shown in the lower part of Figure 1, with die holes 16 at the both end portions of the individual beams receiving the anchor bolts 26, so that, as will be seen from Figure 5, a central space .13 is defined around the reinforcing bar 28 by the ends of the four beams. Inside the central space 15 a spiral bar 30 of steel is helically turned round the reinforcing bar 28 and threaded through the coupling loops 22 until the lower end of the spiral bar 30 reaches the bottom of the central space 1S. The coupling loops 22 of each beam 14 may be slightly bent inwardly as viewed from above to provide ease or threading by the spiral bar 30 (see Figure 6). After insertion of the spiral bar 30, a cross-shaped beam tie plate 32 of steel is placed over the end portions of the four beams 14. The tie plate 32 is secured in place by the anchor bolts 26 protruding upwardly through the holes 16 and corresponding holes of the plate 32 and by elongate nuts 34 which have internal threads at both ends and are in threaded engagement with the upper ends of the bolts 26.Then premixed mortar or some other bonding agent 31 is poured into the central space 15 and the through holes 16 through which the anchor bolts 26 extend, and is allowed to set. The spiral bar 30 enables tensile forces to be transmitted to the beams 14 without excessive tensile stresses being created in the mortar or other bonding agent 31 in the central space 15.

The desired building is then erected using the footing beams 14a as a base. First, floor boards 35 of concrete are laid over the footing beams 14a, and then each of the columns are 2 of cruciform section is held upright as shown in Figure 1. To this end, four coupling bars 36 of a length equal to or slightly greater than the height of one storey of the building and threaded at both ends are screwed into the upper portions of the elongate nuts 34 (e.g.

portions of from 60 to 80 mm in length), the lower portions of which are in threaded engagement with the four anchor bolts 26. The column 2 of cruciform section is then lowered onto the footing beams, with the central hole 7 and surrounding holes 8 receiving the reinforcing bar 28 and four coupling bars 36.

Bonding agent 31, such as mortar, is then poured into the holes 8 and around the coupling bars 36 and allowed to set. After laying of the floor boards 35 and the erection of the columns 2, wall panels 38 of concrete are fitted into the grooves 12 of the columns 2 to provide surrounding walls. Following this, the end portions of four beams 14 are placed on top of the four fins 6 of the cross-shaped column 2 as shown in Figure 1, with the vertical holes 16 of the beams 14 aligned with the four holes 8 of the column and receiving the coupling bars 36 therethrough. Another cross-shaped tie plate 32 of the same design as that mentioned earlier is placed on the cruciform arrangement of beam ends and is fastened in position by another set of four elongate nuts 34 tightened on the upper threaded ends of the coupling bars 36.It is to be noted that this is preceded by fitting of the upper edges of the wall panels 38 into the wall guide grooves 20 on the underside of the four beams 14. Lastly, mortar or some other bonding agent 31 is poured into the central space 15 and allowed to set, thus ensuring that a limited volume of construction material has maximum effect in the building construction. The beams 14 are securely fastened together, as before, by a spirally coiled bar 30 of steel passing through the coupling loops 22.

It will be appreciated that the above description is concerned with the connection together of four beams 14 or four footing beams 14a in the vicinity of a column. However a similar procedure is utilized to join together two beams such as at a corner of a building, or three beams, such as along a side wall of a building where the side wall has a length substantially equal to the length of two or more beams.

A A reinforcing bar passes through the centre of every column of the building, with the lower end of the bar fast with a foundation block of concrete, and the bar passes through the central space defined by the cruciformly disposed beam ends as well as through the central hole of each column. Consequently, the columns of the building are accurately centered. Moreover, the anchor bolts 26 and coupling bars 36 connected to the upper ends of the anchor bolts by the nuts 34 are somewhat loosely inserted in the vertical holes of the beams and the holes 8 of the columns, and therefore dimensional errors that might have resulted from casting or erection of those members can be simply compensated for.

Since the coupling bars 36 are threaded at the upper ends and the beams are connected endwise, the layout of the building may be easily extended or modified as desired in a simple and economical manner. Also, since the through holes in the columns and in the beams are lined with sheaths of steel, the columns and the reinforcing bars in the central holes 7 of the columns are solidly jointed with the aid of a bonding agent, such as mortar.

The same applies to the coupling bars in the surrounding holes 8 of the columns and the vertical hole of the beams.

In either case there is minimal danger of the joints or connections being destroyed or otherwise damaged. The reinforcing bars are provided so as to prevent the columns from falling over during erection of the building as well as to give the completed building added strength. The pouring of the mortar or other bonding agent requires no unusual skill; as compared with ordinary welded joints, the bonds may be easily formed and vary less in strength. Inspection of the bonds is performed in a simple, positive and convenient way without the need for any special testing instrument.

The columns of cruciform configuration and the rectangular beams give the building structural strength. Accordingly, buildings can be constructed which have rooms of larger capacities than those which can be constructed utilizing an ordinary precast reinforced concrete construction of the wall-bearing type.

There is no limitation, such as the necessity of providing quakeproof walls, and the prospective residents can freely choose the layout of the rooms and their shape i.e. square or rectangular. The beam and column construction offers a variety of exterior wall finishes, with free choice of material and design Inside walls are not essential, and it is possible to build a large one-room house and divide the space as desired into sub-rooms by means of partitions and furniture to meet varying living space requirements in accordance with the family size and make-up. The building uses generally lightweight, small-size structural members and therefore necessitates no large investment in respect of production equipment or technical skill. Unskilled labour can be utilized to make the members. Since there is not special restraint regarding transportation and erection on site, the precast members and the associated parts can be fabricated into a building or buildings in whatever location is desired The buildings may be used in industrial and commercial applications in addition to being used as detached houses for individual families.

Example.

The example shown in Figure 7 has two storeys and a flat roof laid on top of the frame of the building and has the following dimensions.

1. The outline of a building: Structure : Precast reinforced concrete structure Building Area : 103.68 m2 Total Floor Area: 155.52 m2 2. Detailed construction

Compressive stress of Foundation 180 Kg,'cm2 reinforced concrete Prefabricated 210 KgS'cm2 Concrete Grout for 300 Kg/cm% Reinforcing bars SR24, (SR = Round Steel Bar) SD30, (SD = Deformed Round Steel Bar) SS41, (SS = Structural rolled Steel) All according rb "Japanese Industry Standard" Allowable bearing capacity of soil 10 tons per square metre Seismic coefficient K = 2 Foundation Reinforced concrete construction, independent footing Column Prefabricated concrete, thickness 150 mm, width 600 mm Beam Prefabricated concrete, thickness 150 mm, length 450 mm Wall Prefabricated concrete, curtain wall thickness 100 mm Floor Board Prefabricated concrete board with ribs, ribs 200 mm x 75 Roof Board 85 mm and board thickness 60 mm Connection Bolts inserted into sheaths embedded in columns and beams, with cement paste poured into sheaths WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A building comprising: a) vertical columns of reinforced precast concrete and of generally cruciform crosssection, each column having at least five longitudinal holes passing therethrough one of which extends along the axis of the column and the others of which are distributed about said one hole and extend parallel to the axis; b) horizontal beams of reinforced Drecast concrete extending between the columns, each beam having a respective hole extending vertically through each end region; c) a respective reinforcing bar extending through said one hole in each column, each reinforcing bar being of a length substantially corresponding to the height of the building in the vicinity of the bar; d) coupling bars extending through said other holes in the columns and through the

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Claims

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2. Detailed construction

Compressive stress of Foundation 180 Kg,'cm2 reinforced concrete Prefabricated 210 KgS'cm2 Concrete Grout for 300 Kg/cm% Reinforcing bars SR24, (SR = Round Steel Bar) SD30, (SD = Deformed Round Steel Bar) SS41, (SS = Structural rolled Steel) All according rb "Japanese Industry Standard" Allowable bearing capacity of soil 10 tons per square metre Seismic coefficient K = 2 Foundation Reinforced concrete construction, independent footing Column Prefabricated concrete, thickness 150 mm, width 600 mm Beam Prefabricated concrete, thickness 150 mm, length 450 mm Wall Prefabricated concrete, curtain wall thickness 100 mm Floor Board Prefabricated concrete board with ribs, ribs 200 mm x 75 Roof Board 85 mm and board thickness 60 mm Connection Bolts inserted into sheaths embedded in columns and beams, with cement paste poured into sheaths WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1.A building comprising: a) vertical columns of reinforced precast concrete and of generally cruciform crosssection, each column having at least five longitudinal holes passing therethrough one of which extends along the axis of the column and the others of which are distributed about said one hole and extend parallel to the axis; b) horizontal beams of reinforced Drecast concrete extending between the columns, each beam having a respective hole extending vertically through each end region; c) a respective reinforcing bar extending through said one hole in each column, each reinforcing bar being of a length substantially corresponding to the height of the building in the vicinity of the bar; d) coupling bars extending through said other holes in the columns and through the

holes in the beams, each coupling bar having a length substantially corresponding to the height of one storey of the building and being threaded at each end; e) a respective tensional connecting means in the vicinity of each reinforcing bar, which means serve to connect together the beams and transmit tensile forces to the beams; and f) a bonding agent serving to rigidly secure together the columns, beams, reinforcing bars and coupling bars.
2. A building as claimed in claim 1, wherein four of the beams are disposed in a generally cruciform arrangement with a space between the four mutually adjacent ends of the beams, the space containing an end of one of the rein forcing bars and one of the tensional connect ing means being filled with bonding agent.
3. A building as claimed in claim 2, wherein the space is closed off at its top by a generally cruciform steel tie plate fastened to the coupling bars by means of steel nuts.
4. A building as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a lower end portion of each reinforcing bar and a lower end portion of a respective anchor bolt connected to each coupling bar are embedded in concrete.
5. A building as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the reinforcing bars are made of steel.
6. A building as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the coupling bars are made of .steel.
7. A building as claimed in any preceding claim, whereinn the tensional connecting means are made from spirally coiled bars of steel.
8. A building as claimed in claim 7, wherein the spirally coiled bars of steel extend through coupling loops provided at the ends of the beams.
9. A building as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the bonding agent is mortar.
10. A building as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the beams are of generally rectangular cross-section.
11. A building as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the holes in the columns and beams are provided with spiral sheaths of steel.
12. A method of constructing a building, which method comprises: a) placing reinforcing bars upright in selected locations, each reinforcing bar having a length substantially corresponding to the height of the eventual building in the vicinity of that bar, and distributing at least four coupling bars threaded at each end around each reinforcing bar and substantially parallel thereto, each coupling bar having a length substantially corresponding to the height of one storey of the eventual building; b) placing a respective column of reinforced precast concrete and of generally cruciform cross-section over each reinforcing bar such that the reinforcing bar passes through a longitudinal hole extending through the column along the axis thereof and such that the associated coupling bars pass through longitudinal holes extending through the column parallel to the axis;; c) placing beams of reinforced precast concrete horizontally between the columns, holes at the end regions of the beams being located over the coupling bars; d) connecting together the beams with a .respective tensional connecting means in the vicinity of each reinforcing bar for transmitting tensile forces to the beams; and e) pouring bonding agent into a number of gaps within the resulting structure so as to rigidly secure together the columns, beams, reinforcing bars and coupling bars.
13. A method according to claim 12, wherein, prior to placing of the columns over the reinforcing bars, footing beams of similar form to the first-mentioned beams are placed horizontally between the reinforcing bars with the holes at the end regions of the footing beams located over anchor bolts to which the coupling bars are subsequently connected, and the footing beams are connected together with a respective tensional connecting means in the vicinity of each reinforcing bar for transmitting tensile forces to the footing beams.
14. A method according to claim 13, wherein a lower end portion of each reinforcing bar is made fast to a respective concrete block and lower end portions of the associated anchor bolts are made fast to the same concrete block.
15. A method according to claim 12, 13 or 14, wherein, prior to placing of the firstmentioned beams, wall panels are inserted at chosen locations between the columns.
16. A building substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
17. A method of constructing a building, which method is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.