Ties and related methods for making insulating composite wall structures including first and second structural layers comprising a hardenable material and an insulating layer having a high thermal resistance disposed between the structural layers. The insulating layer is formed from a plurality of insulating sheets, where the sheets are sandwiched between the structural layers of the wall. During wall construction, the tie is configured to be advanced into the first structural layer before it has hardened, with the tie fitting between adjacent sheets of insulation. No pre-drilling of holes through the sheets, or screwing or pressing of the ties through the actual sheets is required. Each tie includes generally planar features to accommodate such placement, with a penetrating segment, an impact segment, and a mesial segment therebetween. At least the penetrating and mesial segments are generally planar in shape, as they are advanced into such a gap between insulation sheets.

A retention housing for receiving at least one load transfer member is provided. In some embodiments, the retention housing and load transfer member may be included in a sandwich wall panel or a double wall panel. The load transfer member may transfer loads between first and second concrete elements. The retention housing may include first and second retention members, at least one guide member, and a size indicator for aligning the retention members with respect to each other. The guide member may retain the load transfer member at a predetermined angle. In some embodiments, the size indicator may correspond to the thickness of an insulation layer, such as in a sandwich wall panel. The retention housing may further include at least one depth locating means. A retention housing including first and second retention members may further include means for connecting the first and second retention members, such as in an aligned position.

A reinforced concrete tile having top and bottom surfaces defining a thickness, the reinforced concrete tile comprising two or more reinforcing inserts imbedded in the concrete tile in proximity to the bottom surface, the two or more reinforcing inserts being of elongated shape and comprising a plurality of scales distributed along the length and extending upwardly from the bottom surface whereby a compensating force is created upon application of a load on the top surface such that deflection is reduced as the load is increased for at least a range of loads until a yield load is reached.

Ties and related methods for making insulating composite wall structures including first and second structural layers comprising a hardenable material and an insulating layer having a high thermal resistance disposed between the structural layers. The insulating layer is formed from a plurality of insulating sheets, where the sheets are sandwiched between the structural layers of the wall. During wall construction, the tie is configured to be advanced into the first structural layer before it has hardened, with the tie fitting between adjacent sheets of insulation. No pre-drilling of holes through the sheets, or screwing or pressing of the ties through the actual sheets is required. Each tie includes generally planar features to accommodate such placement, with a penetrating segment, an impact segment, and a mesial segment therebetween. At least the penetrating and mesial segments are generally planar in shape, as they are advanced into such a gap between insulation sheets.

A retention housing for receiving at least one load transfer member is provided. In some embodiments, the retention housing and load transfer member may be included in a sandwich wall panel or a double wall panel. The load transfer member may transfer loads between first and second concrete elements. The retention housing may include first and second retention members, at least one guide member, and a size indicator for aligning the retention members with respect to each other. The guide member may retain the load transfer member at a predetermined angle. In some embodiments, the size indicator may correspond to the thickness of an insulation layer, such as in a sandwich wall panel. The retention housing may further include at least one depth locating means. A retention housing including first and second retention members may further include means for connecting the first and second retention members, such as in an aligned position.

A retention housing for receiving at least one load transfer member is provided. In some embodiments, the retention housing and load transfer member may be included in a sandwich wall panel or a double wall panel. The load transfer member may transfer loads between first and second concrete elements. The retention housing may include first and second retention members, at least one guide member, and a size indicator for aligning the retention members with respect to each other. The guide member may retain the load transfer member at a predetermined angle. In some embodiments, the size indicator may correspond to the thickness of an insulation layer, such as in a sandwich wall panel. The retention housing may further include at least one depth locating means. A retention housing including first and second retention members may further include means for connecting the first and second retention members, such as in an aligned position.

A load transfer device is provided to connect concrete elements including, but not limited to, sandwich and double wall panel wythes, roof, floor, balcony and canopy members, and pavement. The device may be used to connect and transfer loads between the components of sandwich and double wall panels. The device includes two load transfer members positioned at an angle with respect to one another. Additionally provided are a retention housing for retaining one or more load transfer members at their angled positions and a depth locating means for retaining one or more load transfer members at their proper depth. Also provided are sandwich wall panels and double wall panels employing the load transfer device and methods for manufacturing sandwich wall panels and double wall panels employing the disclosed load transfer device.

A reinforced concrete tile having top and bottom surfaces defining a thickness, the reinforced concrete tile comprising two or more reinforcing inserts imbedded in the concrete tile in proximity to the bottom surface, the two or more reinforcing inserts being of elongated shape and comprising a plurality of scales distributed along the length and extending upwardly from the bottom surface whereby a compensating force is created upon application of a load on the top surface such that deflection is reduced as the load is increased for at least a range of loads until a yield load is reached.

A retention housing for receiving at least one load transfer member is provided. In some embodiments, the retention housing and load transfer member may be included in a sandwich wall panel or a double wall panel. The load transfer member may transfer loads between first and second concrete elements. The retention housing may include first and second retention members, at least one guide member, and a size indicator for aligning the retention members with respect to each other. The guide member may retain the load transfer member at a predetermined angle. In some embodiments, the size indicator may correspond to the thickness of an insulation layer, such as in a sandwich wall panel. The retention housing may further include at least one depth locating means. A retention housing including first and second retention members may further include means for connecting the first and second retention members, such as in an aligned position.