Building construction and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A building construction ( 100 ) includes a foundation member ( 3 ) associated with a structural member ( 1 ) including a base ( 2 ) adjacent the foundation member ( 3 ). At least one resilient tensioning member ( 4 ) is bonded to or integrally associated with the foundation member ( 3 ) and extends through the base ( 2 ) and into the structural member ( 1 ). A first portion ( 6 ) of the resilient tensioning member adjacent the base ( 2 ) is free from connection to the structural member ( 1 ) and a second portion ( 5 ) of the resilient tensioning member spaced apart from the base ( 2 ) is bonded to or integrally associated with the structural member ( 1 ) such that, in use, the resilient tensioning member ( 4 ) biases the structural member ( 1 ) towards said foundation member ( 3 ). A method of manufacturing a building construction is also disclosed.

1 . A building construction including a foundation member associated with a structural member including a base adjacent said foundation member, at least one resilient tensioning member bonded to or integrally associated with said foundation member extending through said base and into said structural member, a first portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member adjacent said base free from connection to said structural member and a second portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member spaced apart from said base bonded to or integrally associated with said structural member, wherein in use, said at least one resilient tensioning member biases said structural member towards said foundation member.  
   
   
       2 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein the or each said resilient tensioning member, in use, exert a restoring force on said structural member when said structural member is displaced relative to said foundation member.  
   
   
       3 . The building construction of  claim 2  wherein, in use, said structural member is substantially vertically orientated.  
   
   
       4 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein said at least one resilient tensioning member is cast into said foundation member.  
   
   
       5 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein said at least one resilient tensioning member is cast into said structural member.  
   
   
       6 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein said foundation member includes at least one reinforcing member orientated substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said resilient tensioning member.  
   
   
       7 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein a portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member which is bonded to or integrally associated with said foundation member is orientated substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member.  
   
   
       8 . The building construction of  claim 6  wherein said at least one resilient tensioning member is connectable to at least one of said at least one substantially perpendicular reinforcing member.  
   
   
       9 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein an interface between said structural member and said foundation member is adapted to allow rotation of said structural member about a substantially horizontal rotation axis and to resist lateral movement between said structural member and said foundation member.  
   
   
       10 . The building construction of  claim 9  wherein said foundation member includes a raised portion at said interface and said structural member includes a receptacle to receive said raised portion.  
   
   
       11 . The building construction of  claim 10  wherein said raised portion includes a tapered lug and said receptacle is adapted to receive said lug.  
   
   
       12 . The building construction of  claim 9  wherein said foundation includes a plurality of raised ribs adapted to engage a lower portion of said structural member and thereby prevent lateral movement of said structural member relative to said foundation member.  
   
   
       13 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein at least one damping member is provided between said foundation member and said structural member  
   
   
       14 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein said structural member includes a column.  
   
   
       15 . The building construction of  claim 14  wherein an upper portion of the column includes a web section substantially transversely intersecting a flange section to provide a substantially T shaped horizontal cross-section, and a lower portion of the column has a substantially convex polygon shaped horizontal cross-section adapted to, in use, provide a stable base for said column.  
   
   
       16 . The building construction of  claim 15  wherein said lower portion of said column is substantially rectangular in cross-section.  
   
   
       17 . The building construction of  claim 15  wherein the width and breadth of said lower portion of said column are substantially equal to or less than the width and breadth of said upper portion of said column.  
   
   
       18 . The building construction of  claim 15 ,  16  or  17  wherein said column is provided with at least one corbel.  
   
   
       19 . The building construction of  claim 18  wherein one or more of said at least one corbel is provided at substantially an intersection of said web section and said flange section.  
   
   
       20 . The building construction of  claim 18  or  19  wherein one or more of said at least one corbel is adapted to support a beam.  
   
   
       21 . The building construction of  claim 20  wherein one or more of said at least one corbel includes a curved bearing pad.  
   
   
       22 . The building construction of  claim 18 ,  19 ,  20  or  21  wherein at least one of said at least one corbel includes an aperture at substantially the intersection of said web section and said flange section to direct water from an upper surface of said at least one corbel to substantially the corner of the web section and the flange section of the column below said at least one corbel.  
   
   
       23 . The building construction of  claim 1  wherein said structural member includes a wall.  
   
   
       24 . A method of manufacturing a building construction including the steps of forming a foundation member with at least one resilient tensioning member bonded to or integrally associated with said foundation member, applying a predetermined tension to said at least one resilient tensioning member, forming a structural member around said at least one resilient tensioning member including a base adjacent said foundation member, leaving a first portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member adjacent said base free from connection and bonding or integrally associating a second portion of said at least one tensioning member spaced apart from said base to said structural member such that, in use, said at least one resilient tensioning member biases said structural member towards said foundation member.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24  including the step of casting said foundation member around said at least one resilient tensioning member so that the casting process causes said at least one resilient tensioning member to become integrally associated with said foundation member.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 24  including the step of casting said structural member around said at least one resilient tensioning member so that the casting process causes said second portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member to become integrally associated with said structural member.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26  including the step of providing at least one void former around said first portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member to prevent said first portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member from becoming integrally associated with said foundation member.  
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 24  including providing said foundation member with at least one reinforcing member orientated substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said resilient tensioning member.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 24  wherein a portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member which is bonded to or integrally associated with said foundation member is orientated substantially perpendicular to said first portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28  including the step of connecting at least one of said at least one resilient tensioning member to at least one of said at least one substantially perpendicular reinforcing member.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 24  including adapting an interface between said structural member and said foundation member to allow rotation of said structural member about a substantially horizontal rotation axis and to resist lateral movement between said structural member and said foundation member.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31  including providing said foundation member with a raised portion at said interface and providing said structural member with a receptacle to receive said raised portion.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32  wherein said raised portion includes a tapered lug and said receptacle is adapted to receive said lug.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31  including providing said foundation member with a plurality of raised ribs adapted to engage a lower portion of said structural member and to thereby prevent lateral movement of said structural member relative to said foundation member.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 24  including providing at least one damping member between said foundation member and said structural member.  
   
   
       36 . A building construction manufactured by the method of any one of  claim 24 .  
   
   
       37 . (Cancelled)  
   
   
       38 . A building construction including a foundation member associated with a column, an upper portion of which includes a web section substantially transversely intersecting a flange section to provide a substantially T shaped horizontal cross-section, and a lower portion of which has a substantially convex polygon shaped horizontal cross-section adapted to, in use, provide a stable base for said column, the building construction further including at least one resilient tensioning member bonded to or integrally associated with said foundation member extending through said base and into said column, a first portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member adjacent said base free from connection to said column and a second portion of said at least one resilient tensioning member spaced apart from said base bonded to or integrally associated with said column, wherein in use, said at least one resilient tensioning member biases said column towards said foundation member.