IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO COMPOSITE COLUMNS AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement in composite columns of the kind which comprise a core in the form of a steel post (2) and a steel tube (3) which encircles the post, the column components being intended to coact statically with one another and with concrete (4) cast therebetween. This static coaction is achieved with the aid of a jointing and position-fixating sleeve (8) which incorporates a ring (9) having extending therefrom a number of plates (10). The steel post (2) is permitted to extend through the sleeve (8), at least at one end of the steel tube (3), and to project a given distance beyond the steel tube (3). Alternatively, the steel post is permitted to extend only partially into the sleeve (8) and to terminate within the steel tube (3) at a distance which is equal to or shorter than the first mentioned distance from the mouth of aforementioned one end.

Description: IMPROVEMENT IN OR RELATING TO COMPOSITE COLUMNS AND A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME. The present invention relates to an improvement in composite columns comprising a core in the form of a steel post contained within a steel tube, said core and said steel tube being intended to coact statically with one another and with concrete cast therebetween. A large number of different types of composite columns are available commercially in present times. The ad ¬ vantages of composite columns as opposed to purely steel columns reside in the fact that the composite column will often have smaller dimensions in cross- section than the purely steel column, and also a higher fire resistance. The drawbacks with composite columns reside in the necessity of providing expensive devices to ensure that static coaction is achieved between the steel and the concrete, and also the necessity of pro¬ viding complicated devices at the load-application points, e.g. at each floor structure, so as to ensure that the prevailing load will be distributed truly throughout the whole cross-section of the composite column. A common type of composite column comprises a steel tube filled with concrete. When a composite column of this kind is erected to pass through several floors or stories of a building, the load from the floor beams can be transferred to the column through connections welded to the steel tube. These connections must be anchored effectively in the concrete in order to ensure that the concrete will also participate in taking up the load applied. This can only be achieved with dif ¬ ficulty. For casting reasons of a technical nature, there is a limit to the number of stories through which such columns can be extended. Consequently, it is more usual to use so-called storey-high columns, i.e. col¬ umns which extend vertically through the extent of solely one storey. Such columns are normally provided with robust base and top plates, which enable loads to be distributed between steel and concrete. One advan¬ tage with storey-high columns is that the floor beams can be extended continuously over the columns, there¬ with improving the load bearing capacity of the beams. One drawback with storey-high columns resides in the necessity to fit the beams with complicated devices which will enable the load exerted by an overlying column to be transmitted through the beams without subjecting the beams to compression. Furthermore, erec- tion work is normally slower in the case of storey-high columns than in the case of columns which extend through several stories, because when using storey-high columns, it is necessary to adjust the columns verti¬ cally and laterally at each new storey, and to bolt or weld the columns to underlying beams. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved composite column which el inates the aforesaid drawbacks of known composite columns. The characteris- tic features of the inventive column are set forth in the following Claims. The present invention is manifested in a jointing and position-fixating sleeve which facilitates the work of joining columns together and also guarantees precise positioning of the steel post within the steel tube before and when casting concrete therein. Furthermore, the sleeve provides effective static coaction between the steel post and the steel tube and the concrete cast therebetween. Because of its configuration, the sleeve also forms a support which enables a floor beam to be layed so that it continues over the column, while ena¬ bling, at the same time, the steel post of the com¬ posite column to project above the plane of the floor beam, for simple and ready connection of the column above, such as to obviate the need of complicated de¬ vices on the floor beams for transferring the vertical loads from said column above. The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a partial, schematic side view in cross- section of a composite column constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention, and more specifically the base end of the column; Fig. 2 is an end view of the composite column shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a partial, schematic side view in cross- section of the top end of the column illustrated in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 illustrates schematically, and in side view, a method of manufacturing a composite column, and more specifically a manner of mounting to each end of a post of cruciform cross-section a base ring and top ring each of which functions as jointing and position- fixating sleeve; and Fig. 5 is a schematic side view, in cross-section, which illustrates a method of jointing an upper com¬ posite column to an underlying, erected composite column subsequent to laying a floor comprising beams which rest on the top ring of the bottom column, and after filling the steel tube with concrete. Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a preferred embodiment of an inventive composite column 1, comprisng a core in the form of a steel post, e.g. a post 2 of cruciform cross- section, and a steel tube 3 which encircles the post. Subsequent to casting concrete between these members, said members are intended to coact statically with one another and with the concrete 4 cast therebetween. The concrete can be cast between said members either in a separate operation, or in conjunction with casting a concrete floor 5 (Fig. 5), or when using concrete for joining in a prefabricated floor structure. The ends of the composite column 1, namely its base end 6 and its top end 7, have mounted thereon a respective jointing and position-fixating sleeve 8 which is operative to achieve said static coaction and which comprises a ring 9 the outer diameter of which is at least slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the steel tube 3, and the inner diameter of which ring 9 is equally as large as or smaller than the inner diameter of the steel tube 3. The ring 9 has extending therefrom a number, preferably 8, of pairs of mutually parallel plates or fingers 10, which extend towards the centre of the ring and which terminate at a given distance therefrom, said plates 10 having an extension in the longitudinal direction of the ring 9 such that the plates, when forming a base ring, will project slightly beyond, e.g. about 10 mm, one outer edge 11 of the ring 9, said outer edge facing outwardly in the fitted posi¬ tion of the ring, whereas the plates 10 extending from the other outer edge 12, which faces inwardly in the fitted position, project much further from said other edge, e.g. about 80-100 mm, so as to enable effective welding of the end edges 14 of the plates 10 in longitudinal and/or transversal abutment with the side walls 13 of the cruciform post 2, by means of a weld 15. The steel tube 3 extends into abutment with respec- tive rings 9 and is secured in position, e.g. by weld- ing. The position of the cruciform post 2 in the steel tube 3 is determined exactly by means of the plates 10 on the base and top rings 9, both before and when cast¬ ing concrete into the tube. As will best be seen from Fig. 2, the plates 10 on the jointing and position-fixating sleeve 8 extend mutually parallel in pairs, in a direction towards the centre of the sleeve 8 and the ring 9, at a mutual distance apart which corresponds to the thickness of the legs 16 of the cruciform post 2 used. The plates 10 may be pro¬ vided with a slot 17, so as to enable the plates 10 to be deformed more redily and to be adapted to a cruci¬ form post 2 of smaller dimensions. The jointing and position-fixating sleeves 8 are fitted into the end parts of the steel tube 9, with the cruciform post 2 fixated by the weld 15 and with plates 10 displaced positionally in the longitudinal direction of the steel tube 3 such as to form a male and a female end where, in the illustrated embodiment, the female end is lo¬ cated at the base end 6 of the column 1 and the male end is located at the top end 7 of said column. As will be seen more clearly from Figs. 3 and 5, the top end 7 of the cruciform post 2 projects beyond the outer edge 11 of the top ring 9 through a distance which corresponds to the depth of distance from the outer edge 11 of the base ring 9 to the end edge 18 of the cruciform post 2 at the female or base end 6 plus the thickness of the floor 5 to be carried. The plates 10 terminate at the top end 7 of the column 1 flush with the outer edge 11 of the ring, thereby providing a support for the floor beams 19 (Fig. 5). In order to facilitate the erection of an overlying column 1 on an already erected column, the plates 10 mounted on the sleeve 8 which functions as a base ring at the base end 6 of the column 1 project slightly downwrdε, beyond the outer edge 11 of the base ring 9, as mentioned above. Because the top ring 9 at the top end 7 of the co po- site column 1 has a greater diameter in relation to the extension of the cruciform post 2, one or two mutually parallel floor beams 19 can be laid continuously over and supported by the support formed by the top ring 9 on both sides of the cruciform post 2, which increases the load bearing capacity and rigidity of the floor beams 19 while enabling, at the same time, the cruci¬ form post 2 to extend continuously above the floor beams 19 for the purpose of joining the underlying column to the cruciform post of the overlying column and therewith enabling load to be transmitted from the overlying column 1 without requiring the provision of complicated and expensive devices on the beams 19 for transferring the load between the columns. Described in the following is an exemplifying method of manufacturing an inventive composite column 1. A cruci¬ form post 2 of given dimensions is suspended from an overhead crane or like apparatus, as as to terminate at a given distance from an underlying support surface. A jointing and position-fixating sleeve 8 which forms a base ring and a further sleeve which forms a top ring are pressed onto the ends 6, -7 of the post of cruciform cross-section in a manner to form the aforesaid male and female configurations, whereafter the post 2 is lowered onto the support surface and rolled or rotated so as to enable the plates 10 on the rings 9 to be welded onto the sides 13 of the cruciform post 2. When necessary, the plates 10 can be deformed to coincide with cruciform beams of smaller dimensions, by pressing the plates 10 into abutment with the walls 13 of the post 2 and welding said plates to said walls, this de¬ formation of the plates being facilitated by the afore¬ said slots 17. The steel tube 3 is then placed over the cruciform post 2 and welded to the base and top rings. The column 1 can now be erected in position on the building site and filled with concrete, which can either be carried out separately or when casting a concrete floor or when using concrete for joining a prefabricated floor structure.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. An improvement in composite column comprising a core in the form of a steel post (2) which is contained within a steel tube (3) , said column components being intended to coact statically withone another and with concrete (4) cast therebetween, the improvement being characterized by a jointing and position-fixating sleeve (8) which functions to achieve said static coac- tion and which comprises a ring (9) having an outer diameter which is at least slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the steel tube (3) , and an inner diameter which is equally as large as or smaller than the inner diameter of the steel tube (3) ; in that a number of plates (10) extend from the ring (9) through a given distance towards the centre of the ring (9) ; in that the extension of the plates in the longitudinal direction of the ring (9) terminate in at least one direction externally of the outer edges (11, 12) of the ring (9) in a manner to enable effective welding of at least the end edges (14) of the plates (10) in longitu¬ dinal abutment with side walls (13) of the steel post (2) when the sleeve (8) is fitted to the ends (6, 7) of the steel post (2) and functions as a foot and/or a top ring, at the same time as the end parts of the steel tube (3) extend into abutment with respective rings (9) and are positionally fixated relative thereto; and in that the steel post (2) , at least one end (7) of the steel tube (3) is permitted, either to extend through the sleeve (8) and project a given distance beyond the steel tube (3) , or to extend only partially into the sleeve (8) and terminate within the steel tube (3) at a distance which is equal to or shorter than the first mentioned distance from the mouth of said end (6) . 2. An improvement according to Claim 1, c h a r a c ¬ t e r i z e d in that the steel post is a cruciform post (2), i.e. has a cruciform cross-section. 3. An improvement according to Claim 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the plates (10) extend in pairs from the inside of the ring (9) towards the centre thereof, and in that the distance between the plates (10) of one pair corresponds at least to the thickness of the respective legs (16) of the cruciform post (2) concerned. 4. The improvement according to any one of the preced¬ ing Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the jointing and position-fixating sleeves (8) are fitted to the end parts of the steel tube (3) with the cruci¬ form post (2) fixed to the plates (10) of the sleeves (8) positionally displaced in the longitudinal direc¬ tion of the tube (3) such as to form a male and a female end. 5. The improvement according to any one of the preced¬ ing Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the plates (10) in the sleeve (8) functioning a base ring (9) in a steel tube (3) embracing a cruciform post (2) to be erected project slightly beneath the ring (9) such as to facilitate fitting of the column onto an erected, underlying column (1) and joining said columns together. 6. The improvement according to any one of the preced¬ ing Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that when the sleeve (8) functions as a top ring (9), said sleeve forms a support for a floor beam (19) carried by the column (l) and adjoining said column. 7. The improvement according to Claim 6, c h r ¬ a c t e r i z e d by virture of the larger diameter of the top ring (9) in relation to the extension of the cruciform post (2), one or two mutually parallel floor beams (19) on both sides of the cruciform post (2) can be extended continuously over the support thus pro¬ vided, thereby increasing the load bearing capacity and rigidity of the beams (19), while enabling, at the same time, the cruciform post (2) to extend above the beams (19) for joning the column to the cruciform post (2) of an overlying column (1) , and therewith enable the ver¬ tical load of said overlying columns (1) to be readily taken up by the underlying column. 8. The improvement according to any one of the preced¬ ing Claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the cruciform post (2) at the upper end or male end (7) of the column (1) projects upwardly to an extent which corresopnds to the thickness of an overlying floor and the depth of the female end (6) of a column (1) to be erected on top of said column. 9. A method of manufacturing a composite column co - prising a core in the form of a steel post (2) en¬ circled by a steel tube (3) , said column components, subsequent to casting concrete therebetween, coact statically with one another and with said concrete (4) present therebetween, through the intgermediary of a jointing and position-fixating sleeve (8) according to any one of Claims 1-8, c h a r a c t e r i z e d , by pressing onto the end part (6, 7) of the steel post (2) a sleeve (8) in the form of a base ring (9) and a fur¬ ther sleeve in the form of a top ring (9); placing the steel post (2) on a support surface and rolling said post around for the purpose of welding the plates (10) of the rings (9) onto sides (13) of the steel post (2); and placing the steel tube (3) over the steel post (2) and welding the tube to the base ring and the top ring, the column thereby being ready for erection and filling with concrete (4), which can be effected separately or when casting a concrete floor structure (5) or when using concrete for joining a prefabricated floor structure (5) .

Inventors: THOR JOERGEN, THOR, JOERGEN
Applicants: THOR JOERGEN, THOR, JOERGEN
Application year: 1990
Main classification: E04C3
IPC codes: E04B1, E04C3