Key Design Points and Technical Analysis of Connection Nodes Between UHPC Curtain Wall Panels and Steel Subframes

In contemporary architectural curtain wall technology, UHPC curtain wall panels are becoming the material of choice for landmark building envelopes thanks to their ultra-high strength, excellent durability, and design freedom. The connection joints between UHPC panels and steel frame keels serve as the key link bearing both structural safety and architectural aesthetics, directly determining the overall performance of the curtain wall system. As an industry-leading enterprise with 28 years of experience in detailed design and engineering of UHPC/GRC/GRG/GRP materials, Qinglong Group has drawn on the practice of hundreds of large-scale projects to systematically outline the design essentials and technical innovation directions of UHPC curtain wall panel connection joints from the dimensions of structural safety, construction efficiency, and durability.

I. Load-Bearing Logic and Design Principles of UHPC Curtain Wall Panel Connection Joints

UHPC material itself possesses a compressive strength above 150MPa and a flexural strength above 10MPa, but its connection with steel frame keels must address the load transfer problems arising from differences in material properties. Joint design must follow the principle of “rigid load bearing with flexible adjustment”: stainless steel connectors are used to transfer loads while space is reserved for thermal deformation compensation. In the Nanning International Convention and Exhibition Center expansion project, Qinglong adopted 3D parametric design to optimize the joint force model, reducing the self-weight of the connection system for a single 8㎡ UHPC curtain wall panel by 12% while increasing wind load resistance by 30%.

II. Key Technical Parameters and Material Selection of Joint Construction

The core technical parameters of connection joints include anchorage depth, connector spacing, and anti-corrosion treatment grade. According to the industry standard “Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) Exterior Wall Panels” (T/CBMF171-2022), which Qinglong participated in compiling, the anchorage depth of embedded parts in UHPC panels should not be less than 10 times the rebar diameter, and a mechanically interlocking anchorage structure must be adopted. For material selection, Qinglong recommends 316L stainless steel connectors with epoxy resin coating, which can extend the weather-resistant service life of joints to over 50 years—3 times the durability of traditional carbon steel connectors.

III. Construction Process Innovation and Quality Control System

Industrial prefabrication and precise on-site installation are the core requirements of joint construction. In the Foshan Grand Theatre project, Qinglong innovatively adopted the “factory pre-embedding + on-site 3D positioning” process: connectors are precisely fixed through molds during the UHPC panel prefabrication stage, while BIM technology and laser scanning on site achieve ±2mm installation accuracy control. Combined with its independently developed joint waterproofing and sealing system, this successfully solved the leakage problems common to traditional connection methods, and the technology won the Third Prize of the 2023 Guangdong Province Science and Technology Progress Award.

IV. Joint System Optimization from a Full Life-Cycle Perspective

As a UHPC manufacturer providing full-chain services covering detailed design, manufacturing, construction and installation, and after-sales maintenance, Qinglong emphasizes that joint design must also take into account the convenience of later maintenance. In the T3 Terminal project of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, Qinglong innovatively designed detachable connection joints, reducing the replacement time of a single curtain wall panel from 8 hours with traditional methods to 2 hours, greatly lowering operation and maintenance costs. This “full life-cycle design” concept is a concrete embodiment of Qinglong’s mission of “creating beautiful architecture” as a national specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative enterprise.

The design of connection joints between UHPC curtain wall panels and steel frame keels is a comprehensive embodiment of material properties, structural mechanics, and construction technology. With 28 years of technical accumulation and 58 patented technologies, Qinglong Group continues to drive innovation in connection joint technology, having provided safe and reliable joint solutions for major projects at home and abroad, such as the translucent concrete curtain wall of Century Plaza on Nanjing East Road and the Malaysia Twin Towers expansion. In the future, as UHPC materials see wider application in the construction field, connection joint technology will develop toward intelligence and sustainability, endowing more landmark buildings with the dual value of safety and aesthetics.