Architectural precast concrete construction relies on mechanical connectors at discrete locations that may be damaged in a blast or seismic event, posing specific design problems to the engineer. These problems can be overcome with proper detailing. The performance of precast concrete cladding wall panel connection details may be enhanced by incorporating a specific connection hardware, herein described, that deforms elastically or inelastically to accommodate relative displacements due to building motion and/or energy associated with blast pressures.

Architectural precast concrete construction relies on mechanical connectors at discrete locations that may be damaged in a blast or seismic event, posing specific design problems to the engineer. These problems can be overcome with proper detailing. The performance of precast concrete cladding wall panel connection details may be enhanced by incorporating a specific connection hardware, herein described, that deforms elastically or inelastically to accommodate relative displacements due to building motion and/or energy associated with blast pressures.

In certain embodiments, a curtain wall system comprises first and second curtain wall member supporting apparatuses and a corner latching apparatus. The first and second supporting apparatuses each have a respective: vertically-disposed member; horizontally-disposed supporting member; and locking member coupled to the vertically-disposed member. The locking member is disposed beneath a lower surface of the horizontally-disposed supporting member. The corner latching apparatus has a corner shape and comprises a first horizontally-disposed latching arm oriented in a first direction and adapted to engage with the locking member of the first supporting apparatus. The corner latching apparatus comprises a second horizontally-disposed latching arm oriented in a second direction and a stabilizing resilient member disposed beneath a lower surface of each of the first and second horizontally-disposed latching arms, at least a portion of the stabilizing resilient member adapted to compress against an upper surface of a curtain wall member.

In certain embodiments, a curtain wall system comprises first and second curtain wall member supporting apparatuses and a corner latching apparatus. The first and second supporting apparatuses each have a respective: vertically-disposed member; horizontally-disposed supporting member; and locking member coupled to the vertically-disposed member. The locking member is disposed beneath a lower surface of the horizontally-disposed supporting member. The corner latching apparatus has a corner shape and comprises a first horizontally-disposed latching arm oriented in a first direction and adapted to engage with the locking member of the first supporting apparatus. The corner latching apparatus comprises a second horizontally-disposed latching arm oriented in a second direction and a stabilizing resilient member disposed beneath a lower surface of each of the first and second horizontally-disposed latching arms, at least a portion of the stabilizing resilient member adapted to compress against an upper surface of a curtain wall member.

The invention provides a method of constructing a modular multi-storey building including: assembling first and second building modules in a vertical arrangement at an 5 installation location to form a multi-storey building structure, wherein temporary support members between the first and second building modules vertically support at least part of the second building module above the first building module; installing a permanent support structure 10 and connecting it to the first and second building modules to vertically support the second building module above the first building module; and removing the temporary support members.

Processes for making a tilt wall comprising a sealed abutment joint between two concrete wall panels comprising a first wall panel, a dual gasket assembly, and a second wall panel, wherein the dual gasket assembly comprises an interior gasket, a support coupling, and a weather gasket, with the support coupling attached to a first edge face of the first wall panel by the metallic channel, wherein the first and second wall panels are aligned adjacent to one another in the same plane, with the support coupling positioned between the first edge face of the first wall panel and a second edge face of the second wall panel, the second edge face of the second wall panel positioned relative to the first wall panel a desired distance proximate the first edge face to form a desired breadth of the abutment joint between the edge faces; and the interior gasket and the outer weather gasket in contact with and compressed against both the first and second edge faces to seal the abutment joint between the edge faces.

A tilt wall comprising a sealed abutment joint between two concrete wall panels comprising a first wall panel, a dual gasket assembly, and a second wall panel, wherein the dual gasket assembly comprises an interior gasket, a support coupling, and a weather gasket, with the support coupling attached to a first edge face of the first wall panel by the metallic channel, wherein the first and second wall panels are aligned adjacent to one another in the same plane, with the support coupling positioned between the first edge face of the first wall panel and a second edge face of the second wall panel, the second edge face of the second wall panel positioned relative to the first wall panel a desired distance proximate the first edge face to form a desired breadth of the abutment joint between the edge faces; and the interior gasket and the outer weather gasket in contact with and compressed against both the first and second edge faces to seal the abutment joint between the edge faces.

A paneled wall having sealed abutment joints, the wall comprising a first wall panel, a dual gasket assembly, a second wall panel, and a sealed abutment joint between the first wall panel and the second wall panel, wherein the dual gasket assembly comprises a compressible interior gasket, a support coupling, and a compressible outer weather gasket, and wherein the dual gasket assembly is attached to a first edge face of the first wall panel by the support coupling, and wherein both the compressible interior gasket and the compressible outer weather gasket of the dual gasket assembly are in contact with and compressed between both the first edge face of the first wall panel and a first edge face of the second wall panel to seal the abutment joint between said edge faces.

Process for making a paneled wall comprising a first wall panel module comprising a first wall panel and a dual gasket assembly, a second wall panel, and a sealed abutment joint between the first wall panel and the second wall panel, wherein the dual gasket assembly comprises a compressible interior gasket, a support coupling, and a compressible weather gasket, the process including the steps of attaching the dual gasket assembly to an edge face of the first wall panel to form a first wall panel module, aligning the second wall panel relative to the first wall panel module, and compressing the gaskets of the dual gasket assembly between edge face of the first wall panel and the edge face of the second wall panel to seal the abutment joint.

A method is provided for securing external wall insulation (EWI) panels to the outer walls of a high rise building of large panel construction. The method involves first identifying the location of internal voids in outermost floor/ceiling panels of the building; and then creating continuous passages through the outer load-bearing wall panels of the building into the located internal voids, with each such passage forming a tie bar anchorage hole extending into the adjacent floor/ceiling panel. Down the length of each tie bar anchorage hole is inserted a tie bar that has, at an inner end portion, an anchorage, and at an outer end portion, an externally screw-threaded portion that projects from the outer load-bearing wall panel. A pattress plate is located at the outer end of each anchorage hole, with the externally screw-threaded outer end portion of each tie bar extending through the associated pattress plate.