Connectors and Methods of Construction for a Precast Special Concrete Moment Resisting Shear Wall and Precast Special Concrete Moment Resisting Frame Building Panel System

Abstract

A precast concrete wall panel molding system for fabricating a wall shell and a plurality of ribs and beams. A precast concrete wall panel molding system with facilities for incorporating door and window frames. A ductile panel end connector for attaching panels one to another whether in parallel or angled as in inside or outside corners. A ductile panel end connector for attaching panels to columns. A wall anchor/shear plate with post-tensioning brace plate. A hybrid precast/cast-in-place special moment resisting shear wall/special moment resisting frame reinforced concrete building system for regions of potential seismic activity. A prescriptive method building system for composite structural building assemblies with conventional wood and light-gauge steel framing, structural steel, and other building code approved and tested building systems, building components, building panel systems, building roofing systems, modular and manufactured buildings, and building electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems. A precast concrete wall panel system conforming to industry practices and standards as published by the Precast/Prestressed Concrete Institute, (PCI) in it's “PCI Design Handbook” (fifth edition, 1999), the American Concrete Institute “Building Code Requirements for Structural Concrete” (ACI 318-05), The “International Building Code 2006” and the “Uniform Building Code”.

1 . A connector for intermediate and special moment resisting precast concrete sheer walls and moment frames; a steel connector plate which is a torsion/shear friction slip damping ductile slotted bolt connector; a connector for securing a first building structural member to a second building structural member comprising a back member, a center member attached to the back member and the front member, a front member attached to the center and to the end members; and an end member attached to the front member, a connector with each adjoining member disposed substantially orthogonally to one another; a connector wherein the end member contains at least one tension opening which is slotted to receive a tension bolt fastener; a connector with an “inside” portion which may be attached to the steel reinforcement assembly of the precast shear wall, a connector with an “outside” portion which adjoins to a column member of the wall system; a connector wherein the back member may contain at least one opening for the passage of tensioning cable; a connector which is oriented diagonally to the plane of the wail at each end of a precast concrete wall panel. 
   
   
       2 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the connecting means includes a plurality of steel studs for anchoring the plate to concrete. 
   
   
       3 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the connecting means includes welded reinforcement bar. 
   
   
       4 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the connecting means includes welded reinforcement wire. 
   
   
       5 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the connecting means includes prestressing strand. 
   
   
       6 . The connector of  claim 1  wherein the end member is attached to both the front member and the back member with an opening in the back member for the insertion of a shear bolt, washers and nut. 
   
   
       7 . A connector for attaching concrete shear panels of the present invention in planar fashion one to another; a steel connector plate which is a torsion/shear friction slip damping ductile slotted bolt connector; a connector comprising a left member attached to a right member, left member oriented orthogonally to the adjoining right member; a connector on which each member contains at least one tension opening which is slotted to receive a tension bolt fastener. 
   
   
       8 . A connector for attaching concrete shear panels of the present invention in orthogonal fashion one to another, as for the inside corner of a building; a steel connector plate which is a torsion/shear friction slip damping ductile slotted bolt connector; a connector comprising a planar member; a connector on which the member contains at least two tension openings which are slotted to receive tension bolt fasteners. 
   
   
       9 . A friction damping divider, which is a brass plate divider; which is a plate with at least one tension opening that is slotted for the passage of a tension bolt. 
   
   
       10 . A 1-⅝″ 25 gauge galvanized steel “hat channel” which has been partially filled on its interior side with a layer of foam insulation to prevent concrete from obstructing the passage of wallboard fasteners; a steel “hat channel” which is embedded into the concrete along the top, bottom, and along any other horizontal elements of the panel. (to replicate top and bottom plates, sub sills, headers, etc.), and along each rib or vertical element, (to replicate studs, trimmers, etc.), to facilitate the eventual attachment of the wall board or other interior wall materials. 
   
   
       11 . A modified 1-⅝″ 25 gauge galvanized steel “hat channel” which has been riveted, welded, glued, or otherwise closed to form a triangular cross section; a steel “hat channel which is embedded into the concrete along the top, bottom, and along any other horizontal elements of the panel, (to replicate top and bottom plates, sub sills, headers, etc.), and along each rib or vertical element, (to replicate studs, trimmers, etc.), to facilitate the eventual attachment of the wall board or other interior wall materials. 
   
   
       11 . A 25 gauge galvanized steel corner channel which forms a square cross section with arms that extend from a common corner diagonally and flush with one another and connect to 2 adjoining connectors of  claim 7  as when attaching 2 panels in an inside corner assembly; a light gauge steel corner channel which is fabricated for the attachment of wall board or other approved wall coverings on the inside corner of a prefabricated concrete wall panel. 
   
   
       12 . A wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate for special moment resisting precast concrete shear walls and moment frames; a steel wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate connector which is a post-tensioning cable brace connector; a connector for securing a building structural panel member to a foundation comprising a back member attached to a bottom member and a top member, a bottom member attached to a back member and a front member, a front member attached to a bottom member and a top member, and a top member attached to a back member and a front member; a wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate connector with each adjoining member disposed substantially orthogonally to one another; a wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate connector wherein the bottom member contains two openings to receive anchor bolts; a wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate with a top member with an opening for the passage of a post-tensioning cable; a wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate wit a top member that serves as a brace for a building code tested and approved post-tensioning cable anchor; a wall anchor shear plate which is post-tensioning cable brace oriented diagonally to the vertical plane of the wall within the wall cavity of a precast concrete wall panel; a wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate with a front and a back member with openings for the insertion of a post-tensioning cable wedge. 
   
   
       13 . A precast concrete wail panel with a method of making a wall panel for attachment to like wall panels for building a wall, the method comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a mold for casting a concrete member (wall panel) having a generally planar portion including an inner surface and an outer surface, diagonally oriented planar end connectors, with engineered reinforcement, integral top and bottom beams, and a plurality of rib portions extending from the inner surface to the planar surface, (face of the wall), integral to beam portions along the top and bottom of each respective rib portion, with facility for casting openings for structural elements such as windows and doorways.   (b) providing a mold for casting a concrete member (center column panel) having a generally planar portion including an inner surface and an outer surface, diagonally oriented planar ends, wit a removable insert for creating an interior void for later casting in place, with engineered reinforcement, integral top and bottom beams, and embedded duct for the passage of tensioning strand.   (c) providing a mold for casting a concrete member (outside corner column panel) having two generally planar portions oriented orthogonally, (two outer surfaces), diagonally oriented planar interior with a removable insert for creating an interior void for later casting in place, with engineered reinforcement, and embedded duct for the passage of tensioning strand.   (d) Embedding connectors, reinforcement, ducts, and sleeves, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing connectors into the concrete body of the wall panel.   (e) Embedding anchors, plates, and similar structural elements for the transport, movement, and assembly of the finished wall system.   (f) Casting the concrete member in the mold with foam assemblies for forming rib and beam portions, the foam remaining in the wall portion to further serve as insulation in the finished wall assembly.   
   
   
       14 . A method according to  claims 1  and  6 , wherein a column panel of  claim 13 b is attached to an 2 adjoining wall panels of  claim 13 a to make a continuous planar wall to a building; said panels separated by a friction damping divider of  claim 9 ; said panels connected with a panel connector of  claim 7 , said panels bolted one to another with tension bolts, washers, and nuts; corner column panel of  claim 13 b attached to the adjoined panels with tension strand; said corner column panel internal void cast in place with grout or concrete. 
   
   
       15 . A method according to  claims 1  and  6 , wherein a column panel of  claim 13 c is attached to 2 adjoining wall panels of  claim 13 a to make an outside corner to a building; said panels separated by a friction damping divider of  claim 9 ; said panels bolted one to another with tension bolts, washers, and nuts; corner column panel of  claim 13 c secured to the adjoined panels with tension strand; said corner column panel interior void cast in place with grout or concrete. 
   
   
       16 . A method according to  claims 1  and  6 , wherein a wall panel is attached to an adjoining wall panel to make an inside corner of a building; said panels separated by a friction damping divider of  claim 9 ; said panels connected with two panel connectors of  claim 7  and one panel connector of  claim 8 , said panels bolted one to another with tension bolts, washers, and nuts. 
   
   
       17 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein a wall panel of  claim 13 a is attached to a foundation grade beam, pier, or similar foundation element with building code tested and approved anchor bolts and secured with a wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate. 
   
   
       18 . A method according to  claim 12 , wherein wall panels of  claim 13 a are attached one to another and to a column panel of  claim 13 b or  13 , to form a wall panel connection assembly as in an outside corner, an inside corner, or continuous planar wall, with post-tensioning cable passing through cable duct from wall panel to column panel to wall panel, (or wall panel to wall panel for inside corners,) and anchored to the foundation with a wall anchor shear plate/post-tensioning brace plate by means of tension strand, which geometry thereby serves to restore to vertical the orientation of the walls in the event of a minor seismic event. 
   
   
       19 . A looped duct tension anchor, which is a shaped metallic tubing or flexible metallic duct, for anchoring special moment resisting precast concrete shear walls and special concrete moment frames to foundations, piers, beams, diaphragms, and slabs, and for their attachment one to another. A looped duct tension anchor, which is an un-bonded post-tensioning cable duct; an anchor for securing a building structural panel member to a foundation comprising a tube which is shaped (typically with bending equaling 180 degrees) and embedded within a foundation or structural member to facilitate the passage of a tensioning strand, cable, or fiber, A looped duct tension anchor, which is a shaped metallic tubing or flexible metallic duct, which is embedded within a foundation or precast structural member. 
   
   
       20 . A method according to  claim 19 , whereby a looped duct tension anchor, which is a shaped metallic tubing or flexible metallic duct, for anchoring special moment resisting precast concrete shear walls and special concrete moment frames is precisely positioned within foundations, piers, beams, diaphragms, walls, columns, or slabs. The positioning and placement of a looped duct tension anchor, which is an un-bonded post-tensioning cable duct, such placement being precisely positioned to facilitate alignment with un-bonded post tensioning ducts embedded within adjoining wall, column, beam, diaphragm, or other structural elements, such alignment facilitating the passage of a tensioning strand, cable, or fiber after placement of the structural member is complete, as when after a wall or column panel of  claim 13 a,  13 b, or  13   c  is positioned upon a grade beam or slab, a tensioning strand may be passed from the top of the wall or column, (through the embedded duct in the wall or column) thence through the looped tension anchor of  claim 19 , (embedded in the foundation) thence returning through the wall or column, (through another tension duct) to the top of the wall or column whereby tensioning as required is applied to the strand, cable, or fiber which is then secured by a wedge anchor or similar approved device. Similarly, precisely placed looped duct tension anchors embedded within the top of walls or columns facilitates the vertical attachment of wall or column panel's one to another for multiple story applications.