Final answer:
The wide-module concrete joist system with joist bands enables faster building rates, provides excellent thermal protection, and reduces thermal stress due to similarity in thermal expansion coefficients between steel and concrete. It aligns with modern architecture practices by exposing structural elements and is supported by computer-aided design for precision and durability.
Step-by-step explanation:
The wide-module concrete joist system with joist bands is a construction method that employs prefabricated components and offers several advantages in the structural design of buildings. These concrete joist systems facilitate the construction process by providing a lightweight yet strong framework that can support considerable loads, leading to faster building rates. Enhanced by modern computer-aided design technologies, these components are produced with high precision, reducing the potential for human error and aligning with the principles of modern architecture, which seeks to streamline and improve building techniques.
Joist bands integrated into the wide-module system allow for expansion and contraction, addressing the issue of thermal stress. As the reinforcing steel rods in concrete have a similar coefficient of linear expansion to concrete, this combination effectively resists temperature-induced strains. Besides this, the properties of the innovative, lightweight concrete used in these systems contribute to longer-lasting structures with excellent thermal protection, offering both functional and environmental benefits. Moreover, prefabricated components support sustainable construction efforts and can be tailored to specific designs, as seen in historical examples like Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian houses.
The wide-module concrete joist system exemplifies the trend within modernist architecture to expose functional elements rather than concealing them, a practice that also often results in more economical and efficient construction. These modern construction techniques are supported by rigorous testing for earthquake stability, wind stability, and fire prevention, essential for urban buildings in densely populated cities. With more than half of the world's population now residing in urban areas, such innovative building systems are crucial to meet the demands of rapid urbanization.