A structural frame for a building, comprising: adjacent first and second columns; at least one precast concrete floor slab having first and second corner indents located in two adjacent corners and a first elongated edge beam defined between the first and second corner indents, the first elongated edge beam being disposed between the first and second columns such that the first and second columns are received in the first and second corner indents and that the first elongated edge beam abuts the first and second columns; and a first tendon assembly extending between the first and second columns and adapted to be tensioned to compress the first elongated edge beam between the first and second columns, the first tendon assembly including at least one left cable and at least one right cable located symmetrically on either sides of a vertical center plane of the first and second columns.

An inflatable habitat using inflatable structures and necessary accessories offers secure permanent human settlement in an environment such as Mars with an air pressure below the earth's atmospheric pressure. Built upon a crater, the inflatable structure comprises various resilient multilayer roof segments integrated with segment frames to contain extreme internal inflation pressures to provide habitability, maintenance of thermal environment, and low-cost manufacturability using local resources. The roof of the inflatable structure is firmly secured along a rim and a floor of the crater through a wall anchor system and a dual internal roof anchor system to provide a durable structure against hostile weather conditions. A “smart design” using the wall anchor system allows the installation of an outer roof in parallel to the existing roof. Further, a magnetic radiation shield generated through roof power elements externally encloses the roof to facilitate optimal active protection against solar and/or cosmic radiations.

An inflatable habitat using inflatable structures and necessary accessories offers secure permanent human settlement in an environment such as Mars with an air pressure below the earth's atmospheric pressure. Built upon a crater, the inflatable structure comprises various resilient multilayer roof segments integrated with segment frames to contain extreme internal inflation pressures to provide habitability, maintenance of thermal environment, and low-cost manufacturability using local resources. The roof of the inflatable structure is firmly secured along a rim and a floor of the crater through a wall anchor system and a dual internal roof anchor system to provide a durable structure against hostile weather conditions. A “smart design” using the wall anchor system allows the installation of an outer roof in parallel to the existing roof. Further, a magnetic radiation shield generated through roof power elements externally encloses the roof to facilitate optimal active protection against solar and/or cosmic radiations.

A façade structure and/or wall structure for a building which includes comprises tiles (1) and a support structure (2), in which the tiles (1) are received oriented in each case in the vertical plane. The support structure (2) has taut tension elements (3) with bearing bodies (4) fastened thereto, wherein the taut tension elements (3) are preferably formed as taut support cables or as taut tension rods or the like. The several, or at least one, of the tiles (1) received in the support structure (2) are held directly or indirectly supported on the bearing bodies (4) with a weight-supporting bearing, and/or are held locked by means of the bearing bodies (4). The several or at least one of the bearing bodies (4) are or is attached axially fixed exclusively to tension elements (3) oriented vertically in the support structure (2).

A reinforced building wall comprises a foundation; an anchor rod extending from the foundation; a first stud wall disposed above the foundation, the first stud wall including a first bottom plate and a first top place; a second stud wall disposed above the first stud wall, the second stud wall including a second bottom plate and a second top plate; the first tie rod including first and second threaded end portions, the first end portion is operably connected to the anchor rod; a second tie rod including third and fourth threaded end portions, the third end portion is operably connected to the second end portion of the first tie rod; the second tie rod including an outer end portion operably attached to the second stud wall; an intermediate portion of the first tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the first tie rod; and an intermediate portion of the second tie rod is unthreaded and comprises at least about 75% of the length of the second tie rod.

A façade structure and/or wall structure for a building which includes tiles (1) and a support structure (2), in which the tiles (1) are received oriented in each case in the vertical plane. The support structure (2) has taut tension elements (3). The tiles (1) received in the support structure (2) are mounted in a weight-supporting manner and/or held locked by means of one or more of the allocated tension elements (3), directly and/or via bearing bodies (4) attached to the tension elements (3). The several or at least one of the tiles (1) are or is allocated in each case at least one holding element (5). For anchoring to the tile (1), the holding element (5) has at least one anchoring portion that can be anchored in a receiver (1hn) of the tile, and/or cooperates with an anchor (6) received in a receiver (1hn) of the tile (1), and wherein the holding element (5) has at least one tension element gripping portion for gripping on at least one of the tension elements (3) allocated to the tiles (1).

A fastener assembly comprises a first cylindrical member disposed within a second cylindrical member. One of the first and second cylindrical members is movable relative to the other in a first direction. The other one of the first and second cylindrical members is locked relative to the one in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A spring is operably attached to the first and second cylindrical members to urge one of the first and second cylindrical members in the first direction. A removable member is operably associated with the first and second cylindrical members to prevent one of the first and second cylindrical members from moving in the first direction prior to removing the removable member. The removable member is configured to be pulled out to allow one of the first and second cylindrical members to move in the first direction.

A hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down system includes an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer cylindrical body; a first actuation spring operably attached to the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body to urge relative motion between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body such that the connector expands axially to take up the slack; a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; a first passageway communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; and a valve operably disposed in the first passageway in an open position when the connector expands and a closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load.

A hydraulic expandable connector for taking up a slack in a tie rod in a hold-down system includes an inner cylindrical body disposed within an outer cylindrical body; a first actuation spring operably attached to the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body to urge relative motion between the inner cylindrical body and the outer cylindrical body such that the connector expands axially to take up the slack; a first chamber and a second chamber disposed between an outer wall surface of the inner cylindrical body and an inner wall surface of the outer cylindrical body; a first passageway communicating between the first chamber and the second chamber; and a valve operably disposed in the first passageway in an open position when the connector expands and a closed position when the connector is subjected to an axial load.

A building wall includes a bottom plate and a top plate; a first stud and a second stud extending between the bottom plate and the top plate, the first stud and the second stud are spaced apart and next to each other; a tie rod including a first end portion operably anchored to a foundation and a second end operably attached to the building wall; a sheathing attached to the bottom plate, the top plate, the first stud and the second stud; a longitudinal member including a longitudinal hole, the tie rod extending through the hole; and the longitudinal member is operably attached to the sheathing.