Proposed Ribbed Panel System for Precast Concrete Housing

Abstract

B uildings in general and houses in particular can he viewed as shelters which, because of the function they serve, are composed mainly of horizontal (floor and roof) and vertical (wall) planes. Such planes may be solid, or perforated with openings for windows, doors, staircases, and other components. The methodology of building design and construction can be regarded as the art of arranging the horizontal and vertical planes in a manner that best integrates the architectural and structural requirements of the project consistent with the chosen building material capabilities. The traditional concept of providing a building with a particular structural system, as for example, post and beam or `frame, and designing buildings using commonly accepted structural materials and conventional construction methods might not be the most energy efficient way or most economical method of building houses today. Common to all building design and construction are such aspects as energy savings, strength, durability, fire resistance, sound and thermal insulation, cost of materials and labor, speed of erection and maintenance cost. Most of the European industrialized nations and also many developing countries have recognized that the above factors, including economics and versatility, can be attained using precast concrete. The need to reduce weight and consumption of materials while retaining maximum strength and rigidity can he attained with a ribbed panel design, that is, a composition of stressed skin stiffened with ribs, a structure comparable to that used in an airplane wing, rocket or shell. Furthermore, by employing a modular concept, new,