Research and Practice on Transport Fixing Methods for Ultra-Thin UHPC Panels (≤20mm)

In the field of architectural decoration materials, UHPC (Ultra-High Performance Concrete), with its outstanding mechanical properties and design freedom, is becoming the new favorite of high-end buildings such as grand theaters and commercial complexes. Among these, ultra-thin UHPC panels (≤20mm), leveraging their lightweight advantages, demonstrate unique value in applications such as irregular-shaped curtain walls and artistic forms. However, their thin profile also poses extreme challenges for transport fixing—how to ensure panel integrity during logistics has become a critical detail determining project success or failure. As an industry leader with 28 years of full-chain experience in UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP, Qinglong Group has developed a systematic transport fixing solution for ultra-thin UHPC panels based on practices from hundreds of large-scale projects.

1. Core Pain Points and Technical Challenges of Ultra-Thin UHPC Panel Transport

Although ultra-thin UHPC panels (≤20mm) feature high compressive strength (≥150MPa) and excellent toughness, they still face three core challenges during transport: First, the panels are thin and wide and prone to bending deformation; especially for decorative panels with spans exceeding 3 meters, single-point loading can cause micro-cracks. Second, the surface texture is delicate, often requiring the retention of fair-faced concrete effects or pre-applied special coatings, and any bump can cause irreversible damage. Third, projects are highly customized, with each panel often corresponding to a specific installation position, and any damage would severely affect construction progress. Traditional rigid fixing methods (such as direct clamping with metal fixtures) often cause edge chipping due to stress concentration, while flexible strapping methods struggle to control displacement during transport jolts.

2. Qinglong's Full-Chain Solution: Deep Integration from Material Properties to Fixing Techniques

As a national high-tech enterprise, Qinglong Group extends its material R&D advantages into the logistics stage, building a four-dimensional assurance system of “materials–design–fixing–monitoring.” On the material side, by adjusting steel fiber content (2%–3% by volume) and optimizing the interfacial transition zone, the flexural strength of ultra-thin panels has been increased to over 30MPa, providing fundamental mechanical assurance for transport. For fixing techniques, an innovative combined solution of “honeycomb cushioning + modular framing” is adopted: the honeycomb structure uses EPP material with a density of 80kg/m³, and the cushioning unit layout is optimized through finite element analysis to ensure vibration energy absorption efficiency of over 90%; the modular frame is customized according to panel dimensions, built with aerospace aluminum profiles and combined with adjustable polyurethane limit blocks to achieve “three-point flexible fixing,” which avoids rigid contact while limiting lateral displacement to no more than 5mm.

3. Engineering Validation: Dual Verification from Laboratory to Project Site

This solution has been successfully applied in multiple landmark projects, including the Nanjing Road Century Plaza renovation project (a UHPC translucent concrete project) and the Dongguan Women and Children's Activity Center. Taking the transport of 2,000㎡ ultra-thin UHPC curtain wall panels for a commercial complex as an example, through full-course GPS positioning and triaxial acceleration sensor monitoring, the maximum vibration acceleration during transport was controlled within 0.5g, the on-site acceptance rate of panels reached 100%, and the loss rate was reduced by 80% compared with traditional solutions. Notably, the Qinglong team has also developed a supporting BIM transport simulation system that can simulate load distribution under different road conditions in advance, providing data support for fixing solution optimization—this is precisely the innovative extension of Qinglong's full-chain capabilities of “detailed design + manufacturing + construction installation” into the logistics stage.

For architectural designers and developers, the transport fixing of ultra-thin UHPC panels is not merely a technical issue, but also a reflection of supply chain management capabilities. As a participant in establishing UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP industry standards, Qinglong Group has always upheld the mission of “creating aesthetically beautiful architecture,” deeply integrating material performance, design aesthetics, and engineering practice. In the future, as ultra-high performance materials become widely applied in building skins, transport fixing technology will become a key indicator for measuring suppliers' comprehensive strength, and Qinglong will continue to drive industry progress through technological innovation, safeguarding more landmark projects.