Systems and methods for building elevated structures

Abstract

Self-supporting concrete slabs can eliminate the need for temporary backshoring, streamlining the building process and enhancing productivity. These slabs are engineered to support their own weight and additional loads without relying on external supports, reducing labor and material costs while accelerating construction schedules. The process incorporates advanced reinforcement techniques, including post-tensioning and code-compliant splicing methods, to ensure structural integrity, continuity, and compliance with building codes. By simplifying forming processes and enabling early access for other trades, self-supporting slabs offer significant economic and operational advantages, making them a superior alternative to traditional slab designs.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-supporting concrete slab, comprising:
 a concrete body having a thickness, a length, and a width; and   a plurality of reinforcing steel bars at least partly embedded within the concrete body,
 wherein the concrete slab is configured to support its own weight and additional loads without requiring temporary backshoring during construction. 
   
     
     
         2 . The self-supporting concrete slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing steel bars are arranged to span substantially the entire length and/or width of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         3 . The self-supporting concrete slab of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the reinforcing steel bars are connected via a splicing device. 
     
     
         4 . The self-supporting concrete slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing steel bars are arranged to not span substantially the entire length and/or width of the concrete slab. 
     
     
         5 . The self-supporting concrete slab of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing steel bars are also at least partly embedded within a second concrete body and arranged to be movable relative to the second concrete body. 
     
     
         6 . A multi-floor building, comprising:
 the self-supporting concrete slab of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         7 . The multi-floor building of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least five floors stacked vertically,   wherein the at least five floors are configured such that, during the construction of a top-most floor, four floors below the top-most floor does not include any shoring.   
     
     
         8 . The multi-floor building of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least five floors stacked vertically,   wherein the at least five floors are configured such that, during the construction of a top-most floor, four floors below the top-most floor does not include any backshoring.   
     
     
         9 . The multi-floor building of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least five floors stacked vertically,   wherein the at least five floors are configured such that, during the construction of a top-most floor, four floors below the top-most floor does not include any reshoring.   
     
     
         10 . The multi-floor building of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least five floors stacked vertically,   wherein the at least five floors are configured such that, during the construction of a top-most floor, a bottom-most floor does not include any shoring.   
     
     
         11 . The multi-floor building of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least five floors stacked vertically,   wherein the at least five floors are configured such that, during the construction of a top-most floor, a bottom-most floor does not include any backshoring.   
     
     
         12 . The multi-floor building of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 at least five floors stacked vertically, wherein the at least five floors are configured such that, during the construction of a top-most floor, a bottom-most floor does not include any reshoring.   
     
     
         13 . A method of constructing a multi-floor building, wherein the multi-floor building includes at least four floors stacked vertically, the method comprising:
 forming a concrete floor slab at a top-most floor that includes reinforcing steel rebars arranged to span the concrete floor slab,
 wherein the concrete floor slab is configured to support its own weight without requiring any temporary backshoring during the forming of the concrete floor slab. 
   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method does not include any shoring four floors below the top-most floor during the forming step. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method does not include any backshoring four floors below the top-most floor during the forming step. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method does not include any reshoring four floors below the top-most floor during the forming step. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method does not include any shoring at a bottom-most floor during the forming step. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method does not include any backshoring at a bottom-most floor during the forming step. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the method does not include any reshoring at a bottom-most floor during the forming step. 
     
     
         20 . A building construction, comprising:
 a plurality of floors stacked vertically,   each of the plurality of floors including a self-supporting concrete slab, wherein the self-supporting concrete slab includes:
 a concrete body having a thickness, a length, and a width, and 
 a plurality of reinforcing steel bars at least partly embedded within the concrete body, 
 wherein the concrete slab is configured to support its own weight and additional loads without requiring temporary backshoring during construction.