BearStop Floor-Wall Joint Connection Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete structures face challenges in achieving both watertight seals and load-bearing capabilities at joints, often requiring separate waterstops and bearing pads, which can complicate inspection and repair.
Innovation Solution
A dual-function device, referred to as BearStop, which integrates the characteristics of both waterstops and bearing pads, providing a watertight seal, load-bearing, and flexibility, while also allowing for easy detection and correction of leaks through an enclosed testing channel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate waterstops and bearing pads are used to achieve both watertight seal and load-bearing capability, then the sealing and load-bearing functions are improved, but the device complexity and difficulty of inspection/repair increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the waterstop function and bearing pad function into a single integrated device. The device includes a waterproof membrane portion that provides the watertight seal and a bearing pad portion that supports structural loads, both functioning as one unified component at the floor-wall joint rather than requiring separate installations
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a waterstop (preventing water leakage) and a bearing pad (supporting structural loads and accommodating movement). This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate specialized components while maintaining both sealing and load-bearing capabilities
2Reliability
If waterstops are anchored directly into concrete or adhered to concrete surface, then the sealing function is improved, but the ease of inspection and repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The device is segmented into distinct functional portions: a bearing pad portion that contacts the concrete floor and wall surfaces, and a waterproof membrane portion that provides the seal. This segmentation allows the waterproof membrane to be accessed and inspected separately from the structural bearing components, facilitating easier maintenance while maintaining effective sealing
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional waterstop systems are used to accommodate structural movement, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to requiring multiple separate devices
Solution Approach 1:
The bearing pad portion of the integrated device is designed to be flexible and capable of accommodating structural movements such as expansion, contraction, and settling. This dynamic capability is built into the single device itself, eliminating the need for separate expansion joints or movement accommodation components that would be required with conventional separate waterstop systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The BearStop device eliminates the need for separate components, ensures superior leak-free performance, facilitates easy inspection and repair, and accommodates structural movement, enhancing the reliability of concrete structures like storage tanks.
Implementation Method 1
A waterproof membrane can be utilized to prevent the passage of water through a joint between two structures
Implementation Method 2
Bearing pads also act as a safety mechanism by providing flexibility in joints to inhibit damage from flexing or bending and absorbing and dissipating loads
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a floor-to-wall joint connection "BearStop" device for providing both a water-tight seal, as well as load-bearing and flexibility between two closely abutting or adjacent structures, such as the wall and foundation of a storage tank. Embodiments also provide motion or sliding capabilities to accommodate expansion and contraction in the joint area between the wall and the foundation. A knee section provides a testing channel usable for testing the integrity of the seal.