Prefabricated Structural Concrete Beam and Methods for Use

Abstract

A structural beam, and methods for use, comprising a prefabricated structural concrete portion and a poured-in-place structural concrete portion, wherein said poured-in-place portion comprises at least ten percent of the total weight of said structural beam. Reinforcing extends from the prefabricated portion to the poured-in-place portion. In a preferred embodiment, the structural beam is an “inverted-T” beam, and the prefabricated structural concrete portion comprises the lower corbel portion of the beam, and the poured-in-place portion comprises an upper stem portion of the beam.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for constructing a structural concrete beam, the method comprising:
 prefabricating a portion of said structural concrete beam;   erecting said prefabricated portion of said structural concrete beam;   erecting formwork for facilitating the placement of a remaining poured-in-place portion of said structural concrete beam; and   placement of said remaining portion of said structural concrete beam in-place, whereby said poured-in-place portion comprises at least ten percent of the total weight of said structural concrete beam.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said structural concrete beam is an “L” shaped beam.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said structural concrete beam is a “rectangular” beam.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said prefabricated portion of said structural concrete beam is erected atop one or more support columns.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 providing a recessed bearing area in said prefabricated portion for receiving an end of one of said support columns; and   providing a void in said prefabricated portion for receiving reinforcing which extends from said end of said support column.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said prefabricated portion of said structural concrete beam is erected atop one or more support walls.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said poured-in-place portion comprises at least twenty percent of the total weight of said structural concrete beam.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said poured-in-place portion comprises at least thirty percent of the total weight of said structural concrete beam.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said poured-in-place portion comprises at least forty percent of the total weight of said structural concrete beam.   
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing an “inverted-T” structural concrete beam, the method comprising:
 prefabricating a lower corbel portion of said structural concrete beam; 
 erecting said prefabricated portion of said structural concrete beam; 
 erecting formwork for facilitating the placement of a remaining poured-in-place stem portion of said structural concrete beam; and 
 placement of said remaining portion of said structural concrete beam in-place, whereby said poured-in-place portion comprises at least ten percent of the total weight of said structural concrete beam.