How to Design Connection Joints Between UHPC Curtain Wall Panels and Steel Frame Keels?

The connection node design between UHPC curtain wall panels and steel frame keels must balance three key factors: structural safety, thermal deformation adjustment, and installation convenience. The three-dimensional adjustable node system developed by Qinglong Group for super high-rise building projects achieves an adjustment range of ±20mm.

Node calculations must account for the most unfavorable load combinations. We use finite element software to analyze stress distribution under the combined action of wind loads, seismic effects, and self-weight. Analysis results from the Shenzhen Yirui Biotechnology Building project showed that corner nodes need to withstand 15kN of tensile force and 8kN of shear force, based on which reinforced connectors were designed.

Thermal deformation compensation is a challenge in node design. Qinglong's patented sliding bearings allow panels to expand and contract freely in-plane. Monitoring data from the Shanghai Astronomy Museum project showed that this design successfully absorbed 3.2mm of thermal displacement. The bearings feature a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) friction surface, ensuring smooth sliding without abnormal noise.

Anti-corrosion treatment directly affects node lifespan. Projects in coastal areas adopt dual protection of hot-dip galvanizing plus epoxy coating. The connectors used by Qinglong in the Hainan Changying Global 100 project passed a 3000-hour salt spray test. It is particularly important to note that insulating gaskets must be installed at contact surfaces between UHPC and steel to prevent electrochemical corrosion.

BIM technology enables precise pre-embedding of nodes. In the complex curved-surface curtain wall of Century Plaza on Nanjing East Road, the three-dimensional coordinates of each connection point were entered into the positioning system in advance, keeping installation errors within 2mm. This digital construction method improves efficiency by 50% compared to traditional methods.