As reported by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a professor of engineering's solution for streamlining the construction of skyscrapers is being used in a 1.5 million square foot mixed use development in a suburb of Seattle, the Lincoln Square Expansion.
"Traditionally, coupling beams are reinforced with a labyrinth of rebar, adding a great deal of time, cost and complexity to the construction process."
The coupling beams used in the Lincoln Square Expansion, however, are built with fiber reinforced concrete, helping to reinforce the building against possible earthquake damage.
(Image credit: Cary Kopczynski & Co.)
"'The reason we're using the new coupling beams is that they're faster, less expensive, and reduce the potential for field mistakes,' he says. 'With traditional coupling beams, it's very common to have placing mistakes in the field because of all of the intricacy. Now, not only can we build the building faster and more simply, but we can reduce the potential for field errors.'"
Read more about the new solution here: http://news.wisc.edu/24126
