Construction system

Abstract

A reinforcing structure is described for use in supporting a floor at a junction thereof with a structural column. The structure has several generally elongate, preassembled frame structures, each frame structure are disposed in rows parallel to one another. The frame structures incorporate the main top and bottom reinforcement bars for the reinforced floor with integral shear connectors forming part of the frame structures and the shear connectors tying the top and bottom reinforcement together. Transverse internal reinforcing bars are disposed parallel to one another and connected across the top or bottom reinforcing bars of each frame structure to connect the preassembled frame structures into a cagework of spaced-apart, rigidly connected frame structures.

1 . A reinforcing structure for use in supporting a floor at a junction thereof with a structural column, comprising:
 a plurality of generally elongate, preassembled frame structures, each frame structure having a major longitudinal axis, said frame structures being disposed in rows with their major longitudinal axes parallel to one another, and each frame structure comprising:
 at least one first reinforcing bar disposed parallel to the major longitudinal axis of said frame structure; 
 at least one second reinforcing bar disposed parallel to the major longitudinal axis of said frame structure; 
 a plurality of shear connectors disposed at spaced intervals along the longitudinal axis of the frame structure, each shear connector comprising a reinforcing member extending between a first reinforcing bar and a second reinforcing bar, the reinforcing member being shaped to extend around the first and second reinforcing bars such that they are tied together by the reinforcing member; 
   a plurality of transverse internal reinforcing bars disposed parallel to one another and connected across the first or second reinforcing bars of each frame structure to connect the preassembled frame structures into a cagework of spaced-apart, rigidly connected frame structures.   
     
     
         2 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a top portion, a bottom portion, and a bridging portion between the top and bottom portions, the bridging portion extending between the first and second reinforcing bars, and the top and bottom portions each extending in a direction transverse to the first and second reinforcing bars to contain the first and second reinforcing bars. 
     
     
         3 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the bridging portion and at least a part of the top and bottom portions together define an elongated C shaped section of the shear connector. 
     
     
         4 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the shear connector is in the form of a hoop which includes a pair of said bridging portions, said top portion and said bottom portion. 
     
     
         5 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein at least one first reinforcing bar comprises a first pair of reinforcing bars disposed parallel to one another and to said major longitudinal axis, and spaced apart from one another along the direction of the transverse internal reinforcing bars to provide a pair of top edges of the frame structure. 
     
     
         6 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said at least one second reinforcing bar comprises a second pair of reinforcing bars disposed parallel to one another and to said major longitudinal axis, and spaced apart from one another along the direction of the transverse internal reinforcing bars to provide a pair of bottom edges of the frame structure. 
     
     
         7 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein at least one first reinforcing bar comprises a first pair of reinforcing bars disposed parallel to one another and to said major longitudinal axis, and spaced apart from one another along the direction of the transverse internal reinforcing bars to provide a pair of top edges of the frame structure, and wherein each shear connector comprises a generally rectangular hoop having four interior corners with a respective one of each of said first and second pairs of reinforcing bars connected to the hoop at a respective interior corner thereof. 
     
     
         8 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said shear connectors are spaced along each frame structure such that their two dimensional arrangement across said cagework provides a zone of shear reinforcement, whereby when said reinforcing structure is mounted on a structural column to support a reinforced floor, said zone of shear reinforcement coincides with the region in which maximum punching shear is experienced between the column and the floor. 
     
     
         9 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising two sets of said transverse internal reinforcing bars, namely a set of top transverse internal reinforcing bars connected to the underside of the first reinforcing bars and a set of bottom transverse internal reinforcing bars connected to the top side of the second reinforcing bars, whereby the first reinforcing bars are sandwiched between the top transverse internal reinforcing bars and a top portion of the shear connectors and the second reinforcing bars are sandwiched between the bottom transverse internal reinforcing bars and a bottom portion of the shear connectors, 
     
     
         10 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a first set of extended reinforcing bars which extend horizontally beyond the perimeter of said cagework as defined by the frame structures, the first set of extended reinforcing bars disposed in a direction parallel to the first reinforcing bars of the frame structures. 
     
     
         11 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said shear connectors are spaced along each frame structure such that their two dimensional arrangement across said cagework provides a zone of shear reinforcement, whereby when said reinforcing structure is mounted on a structural column to support a reinforced floor, said zone of shear reinforcement coincides with the region in which maximum punching shear is experienced between the column and the floor and wherein the first set of extended reinforcing bars are disposed on top of the top transverse internal reinforcing bars in the plane of the first reinforcing bars. 
     
     
         12 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said first set of extended reinforcing bars are connected to the outside of the shear connectors such that the shear connectors are sandwiched between the first reinforcing bars and the first set of extended reinforcing bars. 
     
     
         13 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a second set of extended reinforcing bars which extend horizontally beyond the perimeter of said cagework as defined by the frame structures, the second set of extended reinforcing bars disposed in a direction parallel to the transverse internal reinforcing bars. 
     
     
         14 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the second set of extended reinforcing bars are disposed on top of the first reinforcing bars of the frame structures. 
     
     
         15 . A reinforcing structure as claimed in  claim 13 , comprising two sets of said transverse internal reinforcing bars, namely a set of top transverse internal reinforcing bars connected to the underside of the first reinforcing bars and a set of bottom transverse internal reinforcing bars connected to the top side of the second reinforcing bars, whereby the first reinforcing bars are sandwiched between the top transverse internal reinforcing bars and a top portion of the shear connectors and the second reinforcing bars are sandwiched between the bottom transverse internal reinforcing bars and a bottom portion of the shear connectors, wherein one or more of the top transverse internal reinforcing bars coincide with one or more of the second set of internal reinforcing bars when viewed from above the reinforcing structure. 
     
     
         16 . A method of constructing a reinforced floor, comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing a reinforcing structure for use in supporting a floor at a junction thereof with a structural column, said reinforcing structure comprising:
 a plurality of generally elongated, preassembled frame structures, each frame structure having a major longitudinal axis, said frame structures being disposed in rows with their major longitudinal axes parallel to one another, and each frame structure comprising:
 at least one first reinforcing bar disposed parallel to the major longitudinal axis of said frame structure; 
 at least one second reinforcing bar disposed parallel to the major longitudinal axis of said frame structure; and 
 a plurality of shear connectors disposed at spaced intervals along the longitudinal axis of the frame structure, each shear connector comprising a reinforcing member extending between a first reinforcing bar and a second reinforcing bar, the reinforcing member being shaped to extend around the first and second reinforcing bars such that they are tied together by the reinforcing member; and 
 
   a plurality of transverse internal reinforcing bars disposed parallel to one another and connected across the first or second reinforcing bars of each frame structure to connect the preassembled frame structures into a cagework of spaced-apart, rigidly connected frame structures;   (ii) mounting said reinforcing structure on a structural support column such that the cagework sits horizontally;   (iii) providing extended reinforcing bars which extend horizontally beyond the perimeter of said cagework as defined by the frame structures; and   (iv) pouring a solidifying structural substance in a layer which captures said reinforcing structure, whereby said solidifying structural substance solidifies to form a reinforced floor.   
     
     
         17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing a reinforcing structure comprises providing said plurality of frame structures and said plurality of transverse top reinforcing bars, and constructing said reinforcing structure in situ on said column by connecting said frame structures and said reinforcing bars to one another and to said column to provide said cagework. 
     
     
         18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of providing a reinforcing structure comprises providing said reinforcing structure as a pre-assembled cagework, and mounting said cagework to said column. 
     
     
         19 . A method of constructing a reinforced floor, comprising the steps of:
 (i) providing a reinforcing structure for use in supporting a floor at a junction thereof with a structural column, said reinforcing structure comprising:
 a plurality of generally elongated, preassembled frame structures, each frame structure having a major longitudinal axis, said frame structures being disposed in rows with their major longitudinal axes parallel to one another, and each frame structure comprising:
 at least one first reinforcing bar disposed parallel to the major longitudinal axis of said frame structure; 
 at least one second reinforcing bar disposed parallel to the major longitudinal axis of said frame structure; and 
 a plurality of shear connectors disposed at spaced intervals along the longitudinal axis of the frame structure, each shear connector comprising a reinforcing member extending between a first reinforcing bar and a second reinforcing bar, the reinforcing member being shaped to extend around the first and second reinforcing bars such that they are tied together by the reinforcing member; and 
 
 a plurality of transverse internal reinforcing bars disposed parallel to one another and connected across the first or second reinforcing bars of each frame structure to connect the preassembled frame structures into a cagework of spaced-apart, rigidly connected frame structures; 
   (ii) pouring a solidifying structural substance in a layer which captures said reinforcing structure, whereby said solidifying structural substance solidifies to form a reinforced floor slab;   (iii) mounting said reinforced floor slab on a structural support column such that the cagework sits horizontally; and   (iv) building a reinforced floor outwardly from said mounted reinforced floor slab either by pouring a floor around reinforcing bars extending from said reinforced floor slab or by connecting additional floor slabs to said mounted reinforced floor slab.   
     
     
         20 . A method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the step of pouring a solidifying structural substance in a layer results in said layer having a depth which captures the bottom edges and a portion of the shear connectors of each frame structure, leaving the top edges exposed, whereby extended reinforcing bars may be mounted to the exposed top portions of the frame structures to provide extended reinforcement to the floor beyond the floor slab. 
     
     
         21 . A reinforced floor comprising a reinforcing structure according to  claim 1 , mounted on a structural support column, and having extended reinforcing bars extending therefrom beyond the perimeter of said cagework as defined by the frame structures, and further comprising a solid structural material in a layer which surrounds and contains said reinforcing structure and said extended reinforcing bars. 
     
     
         22 . A reinforced floor according to  claim 21 , wherein said structural material is concrete. 
     
     
         23 . A pre-cast column slab for use in a pre-cast construction system, the slab comprising:
 a main body having an upper surface and a lower surface;   a first network of reinforcing bars disposed within said main body;   a plurality of discrete hoop elements, the hoop elements in the form of a closed loop, said hoop elements disposed partly within said main body and partly projecting above the upper surface of said main body, such that one or more of said first network of reinforcing bars pass through said hoop elements; and   a second network of reinforcing bars located above said upper surface of said main body, such that one or more of said second network of reinforcing bars pass through said hoop elements.   
     
     
         24 . The column slab of  claim 23 , wherein said hoop elements are provided in said column slab in a regular grid arrangement of spaced parallel rows of hoop elements. 
     
     
         25 . A pre-cast utility slab for use in a pre-cast construction system, the slab comprising:
 a substantially rectangular main body having an upper surface and a lower surface, the main body further having a pair of opposed major ends and a pair of opposed minor ends;   a network of reinforcing bars disposed within said main body; and   at least one coupling member comprising a reinforcing frame having a crenellated side profile, wherein a lower portion of said reinforcing frame is provided within said main body and an upper portion of said reinforcing frame projects above the upper surface of said main body, and wherein said coupling member is interlaced with said network of reinforcing bars.   
     
     
         26 . A construction system comprising a plurality of pre-cast column slabs as claimed in  claim 23 ,
 a first plurality of pre-cast utility slabs comprising:
 a substantially rectangular first main body having a first upper surface and a first lower surface, the first main body further having a pair of first opposed major ends and a pair of first opposed minor ends; 
 a first network of reinforcing bars disposed within said first main body; and 
 at least one first coupling member comprising a first reinforcing frame having a first crenellated side profile, wherein a first lower portion of said first reinforcing frame is provided within said first main body and a first upper portion of said first reinforcing frame projects above the first upper surface of said first main body, and wherein said first coupling member is interlaced with said first network of reinforcing bars; and 
   a second plurality of pre-case utility slabs comprising:
 a substantially rectangular second main body having a second upper surface and a second lower surface, the second main body further having a pair of second opposed major ends and a pair of second opposed minor ends 
 a second network of reinforcing bars disposed within said second main body; and 
 at least one second coupling member comprising a second reinforcing frame having a second crenellated side profile, wherein a second lower portion of said second reinforcing frame is provided within said second main body and a second upper portion of said second reinforcing frame projects above the second upper surface of said second main body, and wherein said second coupling member is interlaced with said second network of reinforcing bars; and 
   wherein said column slabs are arranged in a spaced-apart grid arrangement, a first plurality of said utility slabs are arranged such that the first plurality of said utility slabs extend between opposed column slabs, and at least one of a second plurality of utility slabs is arranged such that the at least one of said second plurality of bridging slabs extends between an opposed pair of said first plurality of utility slabs.