Shear panel for use in modular construction of buildings

A shear panel for use in the modular construction of buildings, the shear panel comprising:

• a bottom base disposed horizontally and comprising a first ferroconcrete, the bottom base having a rectangular cross-section and having a height (hb), length (lb) and width (wb);
• and,
• a frame having a rectangular cross-section and comprising:
• a first pair of parallel steel walls which have an length which defines the length (lf) of the frame, the length (lf) of the frame being 70 to 95% of the length (lb) of the bottom base;
• and,
• a second pair of parallel steel walls which are orthogonal to the first pair of parallel walls and which have a length which defines the width (wf) of the frame, the width (wf) of the frame being less than 70 to 95% of the width (wb) of the bottom base,
• wherein:
• a fraction of the height (hf) of the first and second pairs of parallel steel walls is embedded within the first ferroconcrete of the bottom base such that the first and second pairs of parallel steel walls each extend a vertical distance (he) from the bottom base;
• and,
• the first and second parallel walls are connected to each other and together with the bottom base define the total internal volume of the frame (Vf),
• n steel beams which are disposed vertically within the internal volume of the frame and at intervals across the length (lf) thereof, which steel beams each contact the bottom base and extend therefrom so as to divide the total internal volume of the frame (Vf) into (n+1) vertical chambers each having an height (he),
• wherein:
• n is an integer of at least 2;
• and
• each of the (n+1) vertical chambers is filled with a second ferroconcrete,
• wherein the n steel beams are H-beams,
• wherein the n steel beams each further contact the first pair of parallel walls so as to divide the total internal volume of the frame (Vf) into (n+1) discrete vertical chambers each having a height (he) and wherein each of the (n+1) discrete vertical chambers is independently filled with the second ferroconcrete,
• wherein the n steel beams are H-beams of which each flange contacts one wall of the first pair of parallel steel walls,
• wherein a fraction of each of the n steel beams is embedded within the first ferroconcrete of the bottom base,
• wherein the first ferroconcrete comprises a first concrete and at least one first steel reinforcing bar disposed therein, the at least one first steel reinforcing bar having:
• an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 400 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36,
• a yield strength of at least about 250 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36, and
• an elongation at break of at least about 5%, as determined by ASTM A36,
• wherein the first concrete has a compressive strength of at least about 30 MPa, as determined by ASTM C39,
• wherein the second ferroconcrete comprises a second concrete and at least one second steel reinforcing bar, the at least one second steel reinforcing bar having:
• an ultimate tensile strength of at least about 400 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36,
• a yield strength of at least about 250 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36, and
• an elongation at break of at least about 5%, as determined by ASTM A36,
• wherein the second concrete has a compressive strength of at least about 30 MPa, as determined by ASTM C39, and
• wherein the steel of the first and second pairs of parallel walls have:
• an ultimate tensile strength of from about 400 to about 800 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36,
• a yield strength of from about 250 to about 750 MPa, as determined by ASTM A36, and
• an elongation at break of at least about 5%, as determined by ASTM A36.