A confined integrated concrete structure with added microscale cage-like units

Abstract

This application discloses a method for adding microscale cage-like units to integrated concrete with a confined structure. Each microscale cage-like unit includes a connecting portion and two cage-like confining portions. A first receiving space is formed within each cage-like confining portion, and the surface of each cage-like confining portion has multiple first openings for concrete components to pass through and enter the first receiving space. The two cage-like confining portions are connected by a connecting portion, and a concave receiving portion is formed between the outer surface of the two cage-like units and the surface of the connecting portion, recessed towards the connecting portion. When multiple microscale cage-like confining units are freely stacked, they interlock at the concave receiving portions, restricting the movement of each unit and thus forming a stable reinforcing skeleton within the concrete. This application enables interlocking between microscale cage-like units under free stacking conditions, interconnecting the confined areas within the concrete to achieve a fully confined state within the concrete, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the concrete component.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of functional concrete additives and confined concrete technology, specifically relating to the design and preparation of a microscale cage-shaped unit for integrated confined concrete additives. Background Technology

[0002] Concrete is currently the most widely used man-made building material, possessing high compressive and flexural strength, but its tensile strength is generally poor. To compensate for this, reinforcing materials with better tensile strength are often incorporated into the concrete. The combination of these two materials creates a synergistic effect, enhancing the overall load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, by installing slabs and profiles on the outside of the concrete, or wrapping it with fiber-reinforced materials, the relative displacement of the core components within the concrete is restricted, stress distribution is improved, and the tensile properties of the concrete are enhanced, forming confined concrete. However, existing confined concrete technologies suffer from limitations such as significant variations in confinement efficiency and complex on-site construction processes. For example, when using fiber-reinforced materials to construct confined concrete, the poor stability of on-site binding of reinforcing materials and adhesive fabrics can lead to the prepared confined concrete failing to meet expected mechanical properties. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a method for adding microscale cage-like units to an integrated "construction-constraint" concrete structure, which can improve the mechanical properties of the concrete.

[0004] Firstly, the microscale cage-like unit provided in this application is used to improve concrete performance, and the microscale cage-like unit includes: Two cage-shaped restraints are provided, each cage-shaped restraint having a first receiving space within it. The surface of each cage-shaped restraint has a plurality of first openings, which are used to allow concrete components to pass through and enter the first receiving space. The connecting portion connects the two cage-shaped constraints. A concave receiving portion is formed between the outer surfaces of the two cage-shaped constraints and the surface of the connecting portion. The concave receiving portion is recessed into the connecting portion. When the concave receiving portion contacts other microscale cage-shaped units, it restricts the movement of other microscale cage-shaped units.

[0005] Optionally, the cage-shaped constraint part is a sphere, the cage-shaped constraint part includes a plurality of first arc-shaped rods, the ends of the plurality of first arc-shaped rods are connected to each other to form a spherical cage-shaped constraint part, the plurality of first arc-shaped rods connected end to end surround to form the first opening, and the connecting part connects the first arc-shaped rods on two cage-shaped constraint parts.

[0006] Optionally, the connecting portion includes a central reinforcing ring and a plurality of spaced second arc-shaped rods. One end of each second arc-shaped rod is connected to one side of the central reinforcing ring, and the other end of each second arc-shaped rod is connected to the first arc-shaped rod. The other end of each second arc-shaped rod bends away from the central reinforcing ring and is connected to the first arc-shaped rod, forming the concave receiving portion.

[0007] Optionally, a second receiving space is formed between the connecting portion and the plurality of second arc-shaped rods, and a second opening is formed between two adjacent second arc-shaped rods.

[0008] Optionally, the first arc-shaped rod has a plurality of spaced braces on one side surface facing the center of the sphere of the cage-shaped constraint.

[0009] Optionally, the surface of one side of the plurality of first arc-shaped rods facing the center of the cage-shaped constraint is spherical.

[0010] Optionally, the cage-shaped constraint part and the connecting part are made of fiber-reinforced composite material.

[0011] Optionally, the cage-shaped constraint and the central reinforcing ring are made of carbon fiber reinforced composite material, glass fiber reinforced composite material, or basalt fiber reinforced composite material.

[0012] Secondly, the interlocking confined concrete provided in this application includes a concrete body and a microscale cage-like unit as described in any one of the first aspects, wherein the concrete body encloses the microscale cage-like unit and fills the first receiving space of the microscale cage-like unit.

[0013] Optionally, the interlocking confined concrete includes a plurality of microscale cage-shaped units, which are randomly stacked in the concrete body. The microscale cage-shaped units contact the concave receiving portions of adjacent microscale cage-shaped units to form interlocking connections and constitute a stable reinforcing skeleton inside the concrete.

[0014] In this application, compared to related technologies, the microscale cage-like unit includes a connecting part and two cage-like restraining parts. A first receiving space is formed within each cage-like restraining part, and multiple first openings are provided on the surface of each cage-like restraining part. These first openings allow concrete components to pass through and enter the first receiving space. The two cage-like restraining parts are connected by the connecting part, and a concave receiving part is formed between the outer surfaces of the two cage-like restraining parts and the surface of the connecting part. The concave receiving part is recessed into the connecting part, and when it contacts other microscale cage-like units, it restricts the movement of those units. The microscale cage-like unit of this application allows concrete to enter the first receiving space through the first openings in the cage-like restraining parts, thereby restraining the concrete within the first receiving space. Furthermore, the concave receiving parts between the cage-like restraining parts restrict the contacting cage-like restraining parts, achieving interlocking between the concrete reinforcement skeletons under free stacking conditions. This forms a reinforced skeleton network distributed throughout the concrete, connecting the various regions within the concrete constrained by the microscale cage-like units to form a fully constrained state within the concrete, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the concrete component. Attached Figure Description

[0015] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced below. Obviously, the accompanying drawings described below are only some embodiments of this application. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of one embodiment of the microscale cage-like unit provided in this application. Figure 2 This is a front view structural schematic diagram of an embodiment of the microscale cage-like unit provided in this application; Figure 3 This is a side view structural diagram of one embodiment of the microscale cage-like unit provided in this application; Figure 4 This is a structural schematic diagram of one embodiment of the interlocked confined concrete provided in this application. Detailed Implementation

[0017] It should be noted that the principles of this application are illustrated by way of example in a suitable environment. The following description is based on the specific embodiments of this application that are illustrated, and should not be construed as limiting other specific embodiments not detailed herein.

[0018] In the following description of this application, "some embodiments" are referred to, which describe a subset of all possible embodiments. However, it is understood that "some embodiments" may be the same subset or different subset of all possible embodiments, and may be combined with each other without conflict.

[0019] In the following description of this application, the terms "first, second, third" are used merely to distinguish similar objects and do not represent a specific ordering of objects. It is understood that "first, second, third" may be interchanged in a specific order or sequence where permitted, so that the embodiments of this application described herein can be implemented in an order other than that illustrated or described herein.

[0020] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing embodiments of this application only and is not intended to limit this application.

[0021] While the description of this application is presented in conjunction with some embodiments, this does not mean that the features of this application are limited to this embodiment. On the contrary, the purpose of describing the application in conjunction with embodiments is to cover other options or modifications that may be derived based on the claims of this application. To provide a thorough understanding of this application, many specific details will be included in the following description. This application may also be implemented without using these details. Furthermore, to avoid confusion or obscuring the focus of this application, some specific details will be omitted in the description. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be combined with each other.

[0022] In the embodiments described in this application, references to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0023] In the embodiments of this application, the terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof all mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.

[0024] In the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "pouring" and "connection" should be interpreted broadly. For example, "pouring" can be pumped pouring or non-pumped manual pouring; it can be a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium.

[0025] In the embodiments of this application, "and / or" is merely a description of the relationship between related objects, indicating that three relationships can exist. For example, A and / or B can represent: A existing alone, A and B existing simultaneously, or B existing alone. Additionally, the character " / " in this document generally indicates that the preceding and following related objects have an "or" relationship.

[0026] In the embodiments of this application, the directional terms mentioned, such as "up", "down", "left", "right", "inner", and "outer", are only for reference to the directions in the accompanying drawings. Therefore, the directional terms used are for better and clearer explanation and understanding of the embodiments of this application, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on the embodiments of this application.

[0027] Please refer to Figures 1 to 3 In this embodiment, the microscale cage unit 10 is used to improve concrete performance. The microscale cage unit 10 includes a connecting portion 12 and two cage-shaped restraint portions 11. A first receiving space 113 is formed inside the cage-shaped restraint portion 11. The surface of the cage-shaped restraint portion 11 is provided with a plurality of first openings 112, which are used for concrete components to pass through and enter the first receiving space 113. The two ends of the two cage-shaped restraint portions 11 are connected by the connecting portion 12. A concave receiving portion 129 is formed between the outer surface of the two cage-shaped restraint portions 11 and the surface of the connecting portion 12. The concave receiving portion 129 is recessed into the connecting portion 12. When the concave receiving portion 129 contacts other microscale cage units 10, it restricts the movement of other microscale cage units 10.

[0028] Among them, the micro-scale cage-shaped unit 10 is used to confine the concrete body. The concrete body is cast from self-compacting concrete. The self-compacting concrete is made by mixing and stirring fine aggregate with a particle size of the first particle size range, coarse aggregate with a particle size of the second particle size range, cementitious materials, admixtures, water and additives.

[0029] In one specific embodiment, the aggregate is further screened to obtain fine aggregate with a particle size in a first particle size range and coarse aggregate with a particle size in a second particle size range. The coarse and fine aggregates are then wetted and air-dried to obtain a premixed concrete. The premixed concrete, cementitious materials, admixtures, water, and additives are mixed and stirred to obtain self-compacting concrete. Here, particle size refers to the diameter of the smallest circumscribed sphere of the aggregate.

[0030] Aggregates form the "skeleton" of concrete. They are divided into coarse aggregates and fine aggregates. Coarse aggregates include crushed stone and pebbles, while fine aggregates include sand. Their function is to reduce the amount of cement used, reduce shrinkage deformation, and improve the volume stability and durability of concrete.

[0031] Cement, such as silicate cement or ordinary silicate cement, is the main component of cementitious materials and forms the core of concrete bonding. Cement reacts with water to produce hard hydration products, which bind the aggregates together and determine the rate of strength development and final strength of the concrete.

[0032] Water is essential for the hydration reaction of cement and also provides the fluidity required for concrete mixing and construction. The amount of water must be strictly controlled; too much water will reduce strength and durability, while too little water will affect workability. It is usually quantitatively controlled by the water-cement ratio (the mass ratio of water to cementitious materials).

[0033] The admixtures are mainly industrial waste residues or natural minerals, such as fly ash, slag powder, and silica fume.

[0034] The admixtures include at least one of water-reducing agents, thickeners, and expanding agents.

[0035] Water-reducing agents improve fluidity without increasing water content, or reduce water content while maintaining fluidity, thus lowering the water-cement ratio. For example, water-reducing agents are polycarboxylate-based.

[0036] Thickeners are commonly used functional admixtures in concrete and mortar. Their core function is to improve the viscosity and water retention of the mixture, reduce bleeding and segregation, and are especially suitable for high-flowability applications. For example, cellulose ethers are thickeners.

[0037] Expansive agents cause moderate volume expansion during the hardening process of concrete, compensating for shrinkage cracks and increasing density. For example, expansive agents are sulfoaluminates.

[0038] Specifically, the first particle size range is 0.2mm to 5mm, and the second particle size range is 5mm to 16mm. The first and second particle size ranges can be set according to specific circumstances. Aggregate is screened through 0.2mm and 5mm mesh screens to obtain fine aggregate within the first particle size range, and then screened through 5mm and 16mm mesh screens to obtain coarse aggregate within the second particle size range.

[0039] The self-compacting concrete contains a total content of cementitious materials, admixtures, coarse aggregates and fine aggregates greater than 550 kg per cubic meter, a water-cement ratio of 0.3 to 0.38, an admixture weight ratio of 1% to 2%, and a slump range of 550 mm to 750 mm.

[0040] In this embodiment of the application, the cage-shaped constraint part 11 is a sphere. The cage-shaped constraint part 11 includes a plurality of first arc-shaped rods 111. The ends of the plurality of first arc-shaped rods 111 are connected to each other to form a spherical cage-shaped constraint part 11. The plurality of first arc-shaped rods 111 connected end to end surround to form a first opening 112. The connecting part 12 connects the first arc-shaped rods 111 on two cage-shaped constraint parts 11.

[0041] In one specific embodiment, the first arc-shaped rod 111 is a semi-circular rod, and the cage-shaped constraint part 11 includes 12 first arc-shaped rods 111. A first opening 112 is formed by three first arc-shaped rods 111 surrounding each other. The multiple first openings 112 have the same shape and size. The center of each of the multiple first arc-shaped rods 111 is the center of the sphere of the cage-shaped constraint part 11. Coarse aggregate can enter the first receiving space 113 through the first opening 112. Specifically, the diameter of the largest inscribed circle of the first opening 112 is greater than the upper limit of the second particle size range; for example, the diameter of the largest inscribed circle of the first opening 112 is greater than 16 mm. The maximum particle size of the components in the self-compacting concrete is the upper limit of the second particle size range.

[0042] In this embodiment, the connecting portion 12 includes a central reinforcing ring 121 and a plurality of spaced-apart second arc-shaped rods 122. One end of each second arc-shaped rod 122 is connected to one side of the central reinforcing ring 121, and the other end is connected to a first arc-shaped rod 111. The other end of each second arc-shaped rod 122 bends away from the central reinforcing ring 121 and connects to the first arc-shaped rod 111, forming a concave receiving portion 129. The central reinforcing ring 121 is a circular ring, with an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the cage-shaped constraint portion 11, and the center of the central reinforcing ring 121 is on the same straight line as the centers of the two cage-shaped constraint portions 11.

[0043] Specifically, one end of the second arc-shaped rod 122 is connected to the surface of the first arc-shaped rod 111 away from the center of the sphere of the cage-shaped constraint portion 11. The second arc-shaped rod 122 and the first arc-shaped rod 111 can be integrally formed. The bending direction of the second arc-shaped rod 122 is opposite to the bending direction of the first arc-shaped rod 111. The side of the first arc-shaped rod 111 away from the center of the sphere of the cage-shaped constraint portion 11, the concave side of the second arc-shaped rod 122, and the outer side of the central reinforcing ring 121 are connected to form a concave receiving portion 129. Specifically, four second arc-shaped rods 122 are connected to each side of the central reinforcing ring 121, and the four second arc-shaped rods 122 are respectively connected to the four first arc-shaped rods 111 on the cage-shaped constraint portion 11.

[0044] In this embodiment, a second receiving space 123 is formed between the connecting portion 12 and the plurality of second arc-shaped rods 122, and a second opening is formed between two adjacent second arc-shaped rods 122. Specifically, the two second arc-shaped rods 122, the central reinforcing ring 121, and the two first arc-shaped rods 111 enclose and form the second opening. Concrete cementitious materials, admixtures, etc., can enter the second receiving space 123 through the second opening.

[0045] In this embodiment, the first arc-shaped rod 111 has a plurality of spaced braces on one side surface facing the center of the cage-shaped restraint part 11. By setting the braces, the self-compacting concrete entering the first receiving space 113 through the first opening 112 can be effectively restrained.

[0046] In this embodiment, the surface of the plurality of first arc-shaped rods 111 facing the center of the cage-shaped constraint portion 11 is spherical. The surfaces of the plurality of first arc-shaped rods 111 facing the center of the cage-shaped constraint portion 11 are located on the surface of the same sphere.

[0047] In this embodiment, the cage-shaped constraint part 11 and the connecting part 12 are made of fiber-reinforced composite material.

[0048] In this embodiment, the cage-shaped constraint part 11 and the central reinforcing ring 121 are made of carbon fiber reinforced composite material, glass fiber reinforced composite material, or basalt fiber reinforced composite material. Fiber reinforced composite (FRP) is a new type of material composed of "high-strength fibers" (reinforcing phase) and "resin matrix" (binder phase). Its core advantages are "lightweight, high strength, and corrosion resistance." Performance can be customized by adjusting the fiber type and content. It is widely used in construction, aerospace, transportation, and other fields, and is an important alternative material to traditional metals and concrete.

[0049] Fiber-reinforced composite confined concrete possesses advantages such as lightweight, high strength, and corrosion resistance, and is widely used in the reinforcement of existing buildings and the construction of new concrete structures. Construction techniques for fiber-reinforced composite confined concrete include external bonding, embedding, and confinement methods. In the reinforcement of existing buildings, fiber-reinforced composite materials (such as fiber fabric sheets and fiber boards) are bonded or embedded into the outer surface of macroscopic concrete components. Adhesives are used to ensure a tight bond between the fiber-reinforced composite material and the concrete, restricting lateral deformation and achieving reinforcement. The direct encapsulation of concrete by the fiber-reinforced composite skeleton creates a mechanical "locking" effect, placing the concrete under triaxial compression during service, thus enhancing the material's compressive strength, ductility, and crack resistance.

[0050] See Figure 4In this embodiment, the interlocking confined concrete 20 includes a concrete body 30 and a microscale cage-like unit 10 as described above. The concrete body 30 encloses the microscale cage-like unit 10 and fills the first receiving space 113 of the microscale cage-like unit 10. Further, the concrete body 30 fills the second receiving space 123 of the microscale cage-like unit 10.

[0051] In this embodiment, the interlocking confined concrete 20 includes multiple microscale cage-shaped units 10, which are randomly stacked within the concrete body 30. Each microscale cage-shaped unit 10 contacts the concave receiving portion 129 of an adjacent microscale cage-shaped unit 10, achieving interlocking. When the concave receiving portion 129 on a microscale cage-shaped unit 10 contacts another microscale cage-shaped unit 10, it restricts the movement of that other microscale cage-shaped unit 10, thereby achieving interlocking between units under free stacking conditions and forming a reinforced skeleton network distributed throughout the concrete. On one hand, the microscale cage-shaped units 10 of this application possess an integrated "constraint-structure" feature. Due to their unique configuration, they can achieve interlocking between microscale cage-shaped units 10 under free stacking conditions, forming a reinforced skeleton network distributed throughout the concrete. This allows interconnection of the various regions within the concrete constrained by the microscale cage-shaped units 10, forming a fully constrained state within the concrete, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the interlocking confined concrete 20. On the other hand, the stable interlocking microscale cage unit 10 can work synergistically with concrete, thus eliminating the need for traditional reinforcement materials, thereby improving construction convenience and durability.

[0052] This application can form microscale cage-like units that constrain regional concrete at the microscale. These units can limit the cross-scale development of initial pores in the transition zone of the concrete interface within the cage, such as crack initiation, propagation, and penetration, thereby improving the compressive strength, ductility, and crack resistance of the concrete material.

[0053] Compared to related technologies, the microscale cage-like unit includes a connecting part and two cage-like restraining parts. A first receiving space is formed within the cage-like restraining parts, and the surface of each restraining part has multiple first openings for concrete components to pass through and enter the first receiving space. The two cage-like restraining parts are connected by the connecting part, and a concave receiving part is formed between the outer surface of the two cage-like units and the surface of the connecting part. The concave receiving part is recessed into the connecting part, and when it contacts other microscale cage-like units, it restricts the movement of those units. The microscale cage-like unit of this application allows concrete to enter the first receiving space through the first opening in the cage-like restraining part, thereby restraining the concrete within the first receiving space. Furthermore, the concave receiving parts between the microscale cage-like units restrict contact between them, enabling interlocking between freely stacked microscale cage-like units. This forms a reinforced skeleton network distributed throughout the concrete, connecting the various regions within the concrete constrained by the microscale cage-like units, creating a fully constrained state within the concrete, thereby improving the mechanical properties of the concrete.

[0054] The above provides a detailed description of the integrated concrete confinement structure with added microscale cage-shaped units provided in this application. Specific examples have been used to illustrate the principles and implementation methods of this application. The descriptions of the above embodiments are only for the purpose of helping to understand the method and core ideas of this application. At the same time, for those skilled in the art, there will be changes in the specific implementation methods and application scope based on the ideas of this application. Therefore, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation of this application.

[0055] It should be noted that when the above embodiments of this application are applied to specific products or technologies, and user-related data is involved, user permission or consent is required, and the collection, use and processing of related data must comply with the relevant laws, regulations and standards of the relevant countries and regions.

Claims

1. A microscale cage-like unit for integrated confined concrete structures, characterized in that, The microscale cage-shaped unit is used to improve concrete properties, and the microscale cage-shaped unit includes: Two cage-shaped restraints are provided, each cage-shaped restraint having a first receiving space within it. The surface of each cage-shaped restraint has a plurality of first openings, which are used to allow concrete components to pass through and enter the first receiving space. The connecting portion connects the two cage-shaped constraint portions. A concave receiving portion is formed between the outer surfaces of the two cage-shaped constraint portions and the surface of the connecting portion. The concave receiving portion is recessed into the connecting portion. When the concave receiving portion contacts other micro-scale cage-shaped units, it restricts the movement of other micro-scale cage-shaped units. The micro-scale cage-shaped unit is a sphere. The cage-shaped constraint portion includes a plurality of first arc-shaped rods. The ends of the plurality of first arc-shaped rods are connected to each other to form a spherical cage-shaped constraint portion. The plurality of first arc-shaped rods connected end to end surround to form the first opening. The connecting portion connects the first arc-shaped rods on the two cage-shaped constraint portions. The connecting portion includes a central reinforcing ring and a plurality of spaced second arc-shaped rods. One end of the second arc-shaped rod is connected to one side of the central reinforcing ring, and the other end of the second arc-shaped rod is connected to the first arc-shaped rod. The other end of the second arc-shaped rod bends away from the central reinforcing ring and connects to the first arc-shaped rod to form the concave receiving portion.

2. The microscale cage-like unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, A second receiving space is formed between the connecting part and the plurality of second arc-shaped rods, and a second opening is formed between two adjacent second arc-shaped rods.

3. The microscale cage-like unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first arc-shaped rod has a plurality of spaced braces protruding from one side of its surface facing the center of the sphere of the cage-shaped constraint.

4. The microscale cage-like unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The surface of one side of the plurality of first arc-shaped rods facing the center of the cage-shaped constraint is spherical.

5. The microscale cage-like unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cage-shaped constraint part and the connecting part are made of fiber-reinforced composite material.

6. The microscale cage-like unit according to claim 5, characterized in that, The cage-shaped constraint and the central reinforcing ring are made of carbon fiber reinforced composite material, glass fiber reinforced composite material, or basalt fiber reinforced composite material.

7. A type of interlocking confined concrete, characterized in that, The interlocking confined concrete includes a concrete body and a microscale cage-like unit as described in any one of claims 1-6, wherein the concrete body encloses the microscale cage-like unit and fills the first receiving space of the microscale cage-like unit.

8. The interlocking confined concrete according to claim 7, characterized in that, The interlocking confined concrete includes multiple microscale cage-shaped units, which are randomly stacked in the concrete body. The microscale cage-shaped units contact the concave receiving parts of adjacent microscale cage-shaped units to form interlocking connections and constitute a stable reinforcing skeleton inside the concrete.

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