System and method of foamed cementitious construction

Abstract

A building system and method. A construction method and system is disclosed. The system includes panel members composed of foamed cement containing perlite as the only material aggregate. Each lightweight cement body is encased around its perimeter edges by a rigid frame preferably fabricated from steel C-channel or beams. Once cured, a plurality of such panels vertically disposed, arranged upon building footings, and inter-connected to serve as structure walls. The use of a special foamed cementitious mix containing expanded perlite provides lightweight panels of reliable strength and durability yet excellent thermal and sound insulation. The frames of abutting panels may be joined by welding. Reinforced concrete footings according to this disclosure are provided with a special channel running longitudinally there-along. An exposed anchor bar runs along the inside of the longitudinal channel. The wall panels have reinforcing conduits extending top to bottom in the panel frame. Tie rods situated in the conduit interiors extend beyond the conduit ends. The upper end of each tie rod is adjustably engaged with the end of the corresponding conduit, while the tie rod lower end is connected to the anchor rod on the footing. With the tie rod attached to the footing's anchor rod, the controlled tightening of the engagement of the tie rod and conduit upper ends pulls the tie rod into tension to secure the panel to the footing.

1 . A method for erecting a structure comprising the steps of: 
 disposing a reinforced concrete footing, comprising the steps of: 
 defining along a substantial length of the footing a longitudinal channel in a top surface thereof; and  
 disposing an anchor bar within and along the longitudinal channel and securing the anchor bar to the footing;  
   preparing a panel member, comprising the steps of: 
 assembling a frame to define at least a top, two ends, and a bottom of the panel;  
 situating at least one conduit within the frame, extending from an upper conduit end penetrating the top of the frame to a lower conduit end penetrating the bottom of the frame to provide fluid communication between the frame top and frame bottom;  
 forming within the frame a foamed cementitious panel body, the panel body having two sides and the frame defining the body perimeter;  
   placing the panel member upon the footing and proximate to the anchor bar;    securing the panel member to the anchor bar; and    filling the at least one conduit with concrete.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of defining a longitudinal channel comprises laying a metal C-channel in the top surface of the footing prior to curing the footing.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of securing the anchor bar comprises the steps of integrating with the footing a securing bolt extending into the longitudinal channel.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of assembling a frame comprises contiguously interconnecting segments of steel C-channel.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the step of placing the panel member upon the footing comprises: 
 registering the panel member bottom with the longitudinal channel; and    placing the lower conduit end in fluid communication with the longitudinal channel.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of securing the panel member to the anchor bar comprises: 
 situating rod means along the interior length of the at least one conduit;    connecting the lower end of the rod means to the anchor bar; and    engaging the upper end of the rod means with the upper conduit end.    
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the step of connecting the lower end of the rod means comprises: 
 providing a hook means on the lower end of the rod means; and    engaging the hook means around the anchor bar.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the step of engaging the hook means around the anchor bar comprises engaging the hook means at substantially any location along the length of the anchor bar.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the step of filling the at least one conduit with concrete comprises permitting wet concrete to flow from the lower conduit end into the longitudinal channel.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the step of situating at least one conduit member comprises welding a steel pipe to at least the top steel C-channel member.