TECHNOLOGIES

How it works

Our structures are designed with FIXED CONNECTIONS.

HOW IT WORKS 2

These connections are VERY STIFF. Thanks to that, the whole structure is well BRACED against lateral forces (wind, earthquake, etc), and RESILIENT against accidental situations (fire, impact, blast, foundation settlement, etc).

Fixed connections are obtained by combining the 3 basic precast components (SLABS, BEAMS, COLUMNS)  with some steel and concrete placed at the job (topping).

Learn more about our 3 basic components:

  1. GROOVED HOLLOWCORE
  2. BEAMS (several cross-sections)
  3. COLUMNS

BEFORE & AFTER

Using Elastic Potential technologies will provide your buildings with wider open spaces, by reducing the number of columns.

Before ELASTICAfter ELASTIC
Before ELASTICAfter ELASTIC

FOR DEVELOPERS

We care for rapid construction to deliver valuable properties.

  • Precast structures can be erected in -20% to -35% time than cast in situ structures.
  • Precast bathrooms and precast facades may be placed on the structure, while the structure is being erected, further accelerating the overall contruction.

  • The high speed of construction reduces construction costs
  • The high speed of construction allows to increase productivity of the Developer:
    • The sooner the rentals start, the larger the profitability.
    • The sooner the bulding is sold, the sonner a new development may be started.
  • Cost of precast structures is similar to that of cast in the job construction cheapest floors (waffle slabs).

  • Completing developments earlier allows to react faster versus economic cycles.
  • Faster construction and sales asks for less financial expenses

  • As construction can be done using only tower crane, there is no limit in the number of storeys of buildings.
  • Fixed juntcions, allow for very stiff precast buildings, that resist very well wind forces and earthquakes.

  • +0,5% to +1,0% extra useable surface, thanks to larger spans than in cast in place construction.
  • Spaces are less jammed with columns.

  • Allow for larger clear spaces
  • Allow for easier car maneuver in parking lots

Developers we have worked for

FOR ARCHITECTS

Our designs care about Architecture and environment.

  • Ceilings can be almost flat (using Flat Beams)
  • Beams may be easily hidden in walls (using Flat Beams)
  • Beams and columns may easily be hidden into partition walls (using Flat Frames, formed by Narrow Columns and Rectangular Beams or T-Beams)

  • Floors can be slender, because they are very strong, thanks to prestressing. (Span-to-depth ratio is equivalent to that of post-tensioned slabs)
  • Despite being slender, these floors do not show neither vibration nor acoustics issues.

  • Much less waste is produced in the job than in cast in the job structures.
  • Much less materials are used than in cast in the job structures, thanks to high-strength materials and to optimized geometries of members.
  • -40% concrete and -40% steel is used than in solid slabs cast in the job.
  • -15% steel is used than in waffle slabs cast in the job.

  • Given that beams and slabs are fixed at their ends, negative-moment reinforcement (placed at the top face of the structural members) is very well protected form the heat of fire (comming form the bottom face), and the structures can resist fire for long hours.

  • All structural members have fixed junctions.
  • Structures are well braced versus lateral forces (wind, earthquake, etc)
  • Structures resist well against accidental situations (blast, impact, foundations settling, etc)

Architects we have worked with

FOR CONTRACTORS

Easy assembly to deliver fast and high-quality industrialized construction buildings.

  • Using no props during erection, allows to speed up construction, by starting the work of new trades while the structure is being erected.

  • All components are usually designed to be lifted with tower crane, this is, with a weight under 4,0 T.
  • Only some multi-storey columns may exceed this weight, and may ask for truckmounted crane for elevation.

  • The cost of foundations may be reduced in some 3% to 7%, particularly when using deep foundations (piles)

  • Prefabricated restrooms may be placed on the structure, as the structure is being erected, because precast structural members are self-supported (do not need props)
  • Placing restrooms as the structure is being erected allows to further speed up construction

  • Facade panels may be supported on the structure as it is being erected, and speed up the whole construction

Contractors WE have worked with

Select your type

Pick the building type you are thinking of, and find out the precast solution we can offer.

Next are some typical building structures, solved with some of the basic structural components that we include in our designs.
Check out also how your building may change by comparing the cast in the job solution to the precast solution.

TYPICAL STRUCTURE UNIT

In residential buildings there’s two typical features:

  • There is a high number of partition walls.
  • Useable surface is scarce.

In order to maximize useable surface, Elastic Potential proposes a solution where structural frames (beams and columns) may be completely hidden into partition walls.

BEFORE vs AFTER

Without ElasticWith Elastic

Using precast narrow frames instead of solid precast walls allows to reduce the consumption of materials (reducing cost and environmental impact) and also allows to place services (electricity, water piping, etc) into those partition walls.

TYPICAL STRUCTURE UNIT

In office buildings, partition walls are normally not permanent, and maximum ceiling heights are desireable.

That is why, we typically recommend to use our precast flat beam in these buildings, that only down drops some 7 to 10 cm under the ceiling of the hollowcore unit.

This solution may also be used in public buildings, and residential buildings.

BEFORE vs AFTER

Without ElasticWith Elastic

This is a sample office building to display the effects of optimization.

See, to the left, the complicated tendons layout of a posttensioned solid slab, that also needs formers, props, special workforce in the job, etc.

See, to the right, the simple layout of Grooved Hollowcore slabs on Flat Beams, all to be rapidly built without props.

TYPICAL STRUCTURE UNIT

In car parking areas, normally columns are a nuisance to maneuver cars. Thus large spans are desirable.

A typical solution may be to place frames (columns and beams) at the end of parking lots, and use long hollowcore slabs to span over the parking lots and the central aisle.

Alternatively, frames may be placed parallel to parking lots, and long hollowcore slabs are used to space frames as much as possible, so that a minimum number of parking lots are affected by columns.

BEFORE vs AFTER

Without ElasticWith Elastic

Check the features of our Grooved Hollowcore slab floors, to find easy tips of the depth of the span versus de number of parking lots over which the slab spans.