A Modular System for Vertical Sealing Panels of Paper Tube

Problem statement: The society has been worried about the environment, especially due to the intense exploitation of natural resources, the large quantity of residues and their effects on the planet. In this context, the study and development of new materials in civil construction have become fundamental to make use of industrial residues or products discarded by the population. An alternative is to recycle paper and use it to manufacture cardboard tubes to serve as structural elements and sealing in the Architecture and civil construction areas, as Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has made in his projects worldwide for over twenty years. Approach: This paper addresses the elaboration of innovative modular panels made of cardboard tubes for vertical sealing and the construction system developed for their use. The panels underwent several analyses: compression resistance, sandbag impact and steel ball impact, and a test cell was also constructed to test their construction system and structural performance. Results: The panels showed good results in all tests, resisting a maximum of 5000 kgf compression load, besides high elasticity and tenacity in the impact resistance tests. Therefore, both the construction system and its complements have been patented. Conclusions: The panels showed enough resistance to be used in constructions. They offer several advantages to the sector of prefabricated buildings and housing, such as lightness, cleanliness and speed of execution and are a good alternative for some types of constructions, such as temporary, popular, emergency and movable. These panels are of large importance due to their recyclability, contributing towards environmental sustainability.