Patent Application
20110302875
Seismopane wrapping method: A method for reinforcement of structures and buildings walls against earthquakes and other outside forces, by applying steel plates to walls.
URM: Un-reinforced masonry wall such as brick and/or cinder blocks and/or mortar and/or improperly applied concrete and/or low strength concrete and/or unreinforced concrete and/or any other masonry material.
EQW: earthquake and/or any ground movement and/or wind load and/or any air movement and/or any other external force.
The invention intends to provide a practical and relatively inexpensive solution for strengthening existing brick, cinder block, mortar, and other masonry material (abbreviated here as URM—any structure may have any or all of these building materials as part or all of its structure) structures against ground/base movement (mainly but not only earthquake) and other exterior forces (including but not only wind loads and other air movements) abbreviated here as EQW.
Structures (such as houses, buildings, schools and other public spaces, storages, warehouses, factories, and others) that were built using URM as their skeleton, walls, floors, and/or foundations are at risk. The risk may be especially great in high-density housing or business areas where many such buildings exist in close proximity to one another and where it is common for people to gather for work or in living spaces. The risk exists even if the structure's main supporting columns and beams are reinforced concrete and the URM material is only in-between these structural members. Such walls have a low shear value and are therefore unlikely to withstand any significant EQW, especially earthquakes.
If such structures experience significant EQW, the weak walls of URM are likely to crumble, bringing the structure down. If there is a skeleton structure of posts and beams, the structure will be left with no shear value to withstand the movements. This structure too is likely to collapse bringing down the floors and the roof above it.
This invention is a relatively cheap way of keeping the weak URM walls intact during a jolt, therefore keeping the whole structure intact (provided the foundation and other structural elements of the building are addressed).
“Seismopanel” is a method of using pre-fabricated steel plate system with a grid of holes for bolts. These plates interlock and wrap the weak URM walls from both sides to create a “crust” and sandwich the weak walls between the plates. By doing this, the integrity of the wall changes, and the newly created entity—the combined panels with the URM walls in between—becomes a good resistor of movement (shear wall). The steel panels give the wall the reinforcement of a steel reinforced concrete wall and prevent disintegration of the wall. In some cases where two sides of the wall cannot be wrapped due to existing conditions, the panels can be applied to only one side of the wall. This is usually less than ideal, but with proper design the addition of the panels to even one side of the URM wall can add significant stability to the wall and thus to the whole structure. “Seismopanel can be connected to the foundation of the structure by extending the panels into the foundation belt or by bolting into it.
Because every structure is different, a structural engineer will have to decide what walls of the building will have to be wrapped or covered using the “Seismopanel” method, in order to achieve optimal retrofit. The engineer will select the thickness of the plates and the bolt hole size from a material list available by the manufacturer. The engineer's design will also make the process more practical and economical because not all the load bearing walls of the structure may need to be wrapped.
The engineer will generally design applying the Seismopanel method at the four corners of the structure/building or at central locations in the middle. Some buildings will need a more creative design by the engineer.
“Seismopanel” system into one structural unit. Other methods of connecting the panels together may be used such as welding.
Seismopanel method uses steel, or galvanized steel, or coated steel, or coated galvanized steel or any other structural material with similar shape or size.
Seismopanel method uses various panel thicknesses allowing the engineer to choose the appropriate panel thickness for the specific application.
Seismopanel method uses various size panels allowing the builder to choose the right sizes that will fit the building/structure.
Seismopanel method uses panels with various size holes allowing the engineer to choose the right bolt sizes for each particular application.
Seismopanel method uses panels with various hole patterns allowing the engineer to choose the number of bolts per panel for each particular application.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 206239 | Jun 2010 | IL | national |
