New method could lead to higher buildings but also more green space
Taiwan News
Date: 2019/04/23
By: Matthew Strong, Taiwan News, Staff Writer
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – Taiwanese researchers have developed a new type of Reinforced Concrete (RC) structure which will allow residential buildings to almost double their height.
Japan is the only other country that has reached similar results with a new type of concrete, the Central News Agency reported.
The National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering at NARLabs found that the new material was between 1.6 and 2.4 stronger than traditional RC.
The maximum height for current RC apartment buildings was about 27 floors because of the relative strength of the material, poor soundproofing and the need for large pillars, researchers said. Those problems offset the advantages of low cost, positive soundproofing and fire resistance, they added. [FULL STORY]