Shear panel for use in modular construction of buildings

1 . A shear panel for use in the modular construction of buildings, the shear panel comprising:

a bottom base disposed horizontally and comprising a first ferroconcrete, the bottom base having a rectangular cross-section and having a height (h b ), length (l b ) and width (w b ); and,

a frame having a rectangular cross-section and comprising:

a first pair of parallel steel walls which have an length which defines the length (l f ) of the frame, the length (l f ) of the frame being 70 to 95% of the length (l b ) of the bottom base; and,

a second pair of parallel steel walls which are orthogonal to the first pair of parallel walls and which have a length which defines the width (w f ) of the frame, the width (w f ) of the frame being less than 70 to 95% of the width (w b ) of the bottom base,

wherein:

a fraction of the height (h f ) of the first and second pairs of parallel steel walls is embedded within the first ferroconcrete of the bottom base such that the first and second pairs of parallel steel walls each extend a vertical distance (h e ) from the bottom base; and,

the first and second parallel walls are connected to each other and together with the bottom base define the total internal volume of the frame (V f ),

n steel beams which are disposed vertically within the internal volume of the frame and at intervals across the length (l f ) thereof, which steel beams each contact the bottom base and extend therefrom so as to divide the total internal volume of the frame (V f ) into (n+1) vertical chambers each having an height (h e ),

wherein:

n is an integer of at least 2; and

each of the (n+1) vertical chambers is filled with a second ferroconcrete,

wherein the n steel beams are H-beams,

wherein the n steel beams each further contact the first pair of parallel walls so as to divide the total internal volume of the frame (V f ) into (n+1) discrete vertical chambers each having a height (h e ) and wherein each of the (n+1) discrete vertical chambers is independently filled with the second ferroconcrete,

wherein the n steel beams are H-beams of which each flange contacts one wall of the first pair of parallel steel walls,

wherein a fraction of each of the n steel beams is embedded within the first ferroconcrete of the bottom base,

wherein the first ferroconcrete comprises a first concrete and at least one first steel reinforcing bar disposed therein, the at least one first steel reinforcing bar having:

an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 400 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36,

a yield strength of at least about 250 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36, and

an elongation at break of at least about 5%, as determined by ASTM A36,

wherein the first concrete has a compressive strength of at least about 30 MPa, as determined by ASTM C39,

wherein the second ferroconcrete comprises a second concrete and at least one second steel reinforcing bar, the at least one second steel reinforcing bar having:

an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 400 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36,

a yield strength of at least about 250 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36, and

an elongation at break of at least about 5%, as determined by ASTM A36,

wherein the second concrete has a compressive strength of at least about 30 MPa, as determined by ASTM C39, and

wherein the steel of the first and second pairs of parallel walls have:

an ultimate tensile strength of from about 400 to about 800 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36,

a yield strength of from about 250 to about 750 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36, and

an elongation at break of at least about 5%, as determined by ASTM A36.

2 . The shear panel according to claim 1 , wherein n is an integer of from 2 to 6.

3 . The shear panel according to claim 1 , wherein n is an integer of from 3 to 5.

4 . The shear panel according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the n steel beams is devoid of through-holes.

5 . The shear panel according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of first steel reinforcing bars disposed horizontally within the bottom base.

6 . The shear panel according to claim 1 , wherein the first ferroconcrete further comprises at least one steel girder which has a rectangular cross-section and is disposed horizontally within the bottom base.

7 . The shear panel according to claim 6 , wherein:

a fraction of each of the n steel beams is embedded within the first ferroconcrete of the bottom base; and

the embedded fraction of each of the n steel beams is connected to the at least one steel girder.

8 . The shear panel according to claim 7 , wherein the embedded fraction of each of the n steel beams is welded to the at least one steel girder.

9 . The shear panel according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of second steel reinforcing bars disposed vertically within the second concrete.

10 . The shear panel according to claim 1 , wherein the length (l f ) is 75 to 95% of the length (l b ).

11 . The shear panel according to claim 10 , wherein the length (l f ) is 80 to 95% of the length (l b ).

12 . The shear panel according to claim 1 , wherein the width (w f ) is 75 to 95% of the width (w b ).

13 . The shear panel according to claim 12 , wherein the width (w f ) is 80 to 95% of the width (w b ).

14 . The shear panel according to claim 1 , wherein the n steel beams are positioned at equidistant intervals across the length (l f ).