Connection Methods Between UHPC Decorative Components and the Main Structure: Types, Applicable Scenarios, and Technical Requirements

The connection method between UHPC decorative components and the main structure directly affects installation safety and decorative effect. The appropriate connection method should be selected according to component type, load conditions, and installation environment. As a UHPC manufacturer integrating production and installation, Qinglong holds a Grade II qualification for professional curtain wall engineering contracting and has mastered a variety of connection technologies, successfully applying them in projects such as the Shenzhen Yirui Biotechnology Building and the Yangshengtang Pharmaceutical Hangzhou Industrial Park, providing reliable connection solutions for different scenarios.

Dry-hanging connection is a common method for UHPC decorative components, suitable for non-load-bearing components such as exterior wall panels and decorative moldings, with the core advantages of convenient construction and replaceability. Qinglong's dry-hanging connection mainly adopts a "hanger + keel" system. The hangers are made of stainless steel (304 or 316L), with hanger size and quantity designed according to component weight (no fewer than 4 per square meter). The keels are made of hot-dip galvanized square steel or channel steel, fixed to the main structure with expansion bolts. The hangers are connected to the UHPC components via pre-reserved slots or back bolts, with slot depth ≥20mm and back bolt diameter ≥8mm to ensure a firm connection. In the Shenzhen Pingshan High-tech Zone Comprehensive Service Center project, UHPC curtain wall panels were installed using dry-hanging connections with hanger pull-out resistance ≥5kN, successfully resisting wind loads and seismic action. After installation, the surface is flat with uniform joint gaps (≤3mm). Dry-hanging connection requires high installation precision; Qinglong uses 3D laser scanning positioning technology to ensure the installation error of hangers and keels is ≤±2mm.

Embedded connection is suitable for load-bearing components or large, complex components such as large sculptures and thick plates, with the advantages of high connection strength and good integrity. During UHPC component production, Qinglong pre-embeds connectors (stainless steel plates or anchor bars) in advance. The embedded parts are strengthened with the component body through fiber reinforcement technology, ensuring interface bond strength ≥3.5MPa. During installation, the embedded parts are welded or bolted to the embedded steel plates of the main structure. Welding uses argon arc welding with weld height ≥6mm, and bolted connections use double-nut locking to prevent loosening. In the Shanghai Astronomy Museum public art project, UHPC sculptures over 3 meters high used embedded connections; the embedded parts were firmly integrated with the main structure, ensuring long-term stability of the sculptures and resistance to outdoor wind loads and temperature changes. Embedded connections require the positioning of embedded parts in the main structure to be completed before component production; Qinglong uses BIM technology for collaborative design to avoid position deviation of embedded parts.

Back-bolt connection is an upgraded form of dry-hanging connection, suitable for large-size, heavy-load UHPC exterior wall panels, with the advantages of uniform load distribution and minimal damage to components. Qinglong uses stainless steel back bolts (diameter ≥10mm), drilling holes on the back of UHPC components with specialized equipment (hole diameter error ≤±0.5mm). The back bolts penetrate the components to a depth ≥30mm, forming a mechanical lock with the component, and are then connected to the main structure's keels via connectors. Back-bolt connection enables stress-free installation of components, avoiding the edge cracking that slot-type dry hanging may cause. In the Ouargla Hotel project in Algeria, 50mm-thick UHPC hollow-out panels used back-bolt connections; individual components weighing over 200kg remained firmly installed, with no visible connection marks on the surface, achieving a better decorative effect. Back-bolt connection requires high density of components; Qinglong's UHPC material has a porosity ≤5%, ensuring the load-bearing capacity after back bolt installation.

Other special connection methods include adhesive bonding, pin connection, etc., suitable for specific scenarios. Adhesive connection uses special epoxy adhesive, suitable for small components or auxiliary connections, with adhesive shear strength ≥10MPa. In interior decorative molding projects, Qinglong uses a composite connection of bonding + mechanical fixation to improve connection reliability. Pin connection joins components to the main structure through stainless steel pins, suitable for thin-walled components, with pin diameter ≥6mm and spacing ≤500mm to avoid component deformation.

Qinglong's selection of UHPC component connection methods follows the principles of "safety first, strong adaptability, and convenient construction," with specialized designs based on actual project conditions. All connection nodes are verified through mechanical performance testing and on-site trials. For designers and owners, a scientific connection method is the core guarantee of project safety. With rich installation experience and professional technical capabilities, Qinglong provides customized connection solutions for every project, ensuring that UHPC decorative components are firmly integrated with the main structure, achieving a perfect unity of decorative effect and structural safety.