| Patent granted for stronger building panel
On March 2nd, the US Patent Office granted patent 6,699,575 to Habib Dagher and William Davids, AEWC director and assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering respectively. The patent is assigned to the University of Maine System, meaning that UMaine has the right to license the technology for commercial development. The panel increases the sheer strength and ductility of wall, roof and floor systems, says Dagher. "The panel itself is expected to be useful in southeastern and western regions of the US at risk for high wind and seismic events, where more stringent construction measures apply," adds Davids. "Other potential uses that could impact the construction industry are currently being investigated at the AEWC Center, including applications in modular panelised construction and specially engineered narrow walls." Research by AEWC graduate students Aaron Bremer and Eric Cassidy evaluated potential applications and optimum design of the patented technology. Keith Martin, a master's degree student at AEWC, is continuing to explore new potential uses. At the heart of the technology is the addition of tough fibre reinforced polymer material to the perimeter and other nailing surfaces of building panels including oriented strand board and plywood. When storms and earthquakes cause structures to collapse, structural failure can often be traced to weaknesses where panels are nailed to framing members such as wall studs or roof rafters. Reinforcing those areas will reduce the likelihood that panel edges can be splintered or pulled away from the framing.
•Date:
18th March 2004 •Region: N.America •Type:
Article •Topic: BC
facilities and build |
