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January 16, 2004
"Self-Installing Brace Method" Obtains
Architectural Engineering Performance Certification
Sales promotion begins by the 15 research member companies
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Self-Installing Brace Research Group
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The "Self-Installing Brace Research Group" (Representative Company: Takenaka Corporation; member companies: 15) has recently obtained "Architectural Engineering Performance Certification" from the General Building Research Corporation of Japan (Chairman: Shiro Morita) for its effective earthquake resistance strengthening method for existing buildings. This strengthening method entails the installation of PCa braces to an existing framework by dissipating the prestress. The group is now planning how to promote sales of this method.
Presently, methods for earthquake resistance strengthening
of the walls of reinforced concrete buildings include the building
of new earthquake resisting walls or increasing their number,
and the steel brace method. However, strengthening using walls
gives a building the feeling of confinement, and may restrict
or affect this functionality. Also, with the steel brace method,
anchoring work is necessary to fix the earthquake resistance
strengthening parts to the existing building. There is also
the problem with both these methods that makes it difficult
to undertake the work wile the building is being occupied because
of the extent of the vibrations and sound.
With this new method, prestress is given to the springs at
toe sections of braces, and two PCa braces are joined with two
PCa braces in the upper section to form a cross brace, which
can be directly joined by the reaction force of the springs
to existing beams, columns, etc., without building a special
frame.With the installation of the PCa braces, most of the assembly
work is done at the plant where they are made, so the work can
be done with little vibration and sound, and there is no need
for steel frames around the braces or anchoring work, therefore,
compared to the ordinary steel brace method, it can be done
at about 20 percent less cost.
The method was jointly developed by Professor Fumio Watanabe of the Department of Architecture and Architectural systems, Kyoto University, NAGAI Architectural Design Office (Location: Osaka; President: Eiji Nagai), Takenaka Corporation (Head Office: Osaka; President: Toichi Takenaka), and Daiwa Co., Ltd. (Head Office: Inabe City, Mie Prefecture; President: Kyohei Kono) in October 2002. The membership of the research group grew to 15, to continue research, and to develop the practical application, reliability and versatility of the method.
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Features
of the Self-Installing Brace Method |
- No anchoring work is required, so there is little vibration and sound during the installation, making the method suitable for earthquake resistance strengthening work while a building is being occupied.
- No brace frames or anchors are required, so the work can be done at about 20 percent less cost.
- The parts can be made at the manufacturing plant, so most
of the site work is installation, which is labor-saving and
shortens the work period.
- The surface of the PCa material is very smooth, and only needs to be painted to finish.
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Member companies
and representatives of the Self-Installing Brace Research
Group |
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Takenaka Corporation (Representative Company), NAGAI
Architectural Design Office, DAIWA Corporation, Asanuma
Corporation, Obayashi Corporation, Okumura Corporation,
Kajima Corporation, Penta-Ocean Construction Co., Ltd.,
Shimizu Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Construction Co.,
Ltd., The Zenitaka Corporation, Taisei Corporation, Fujita
Corporation, Maeda Corporation, Matsumura-Gumi Corporation.
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