Bottom-Up Concrete Pumping for Fiber-Reinforced Column Vibration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing fiber-reinforced concrete columns face inefficiencies due to difficulties in vibrating the concrete within small-diameter pipes, especially when bracket reinforcement is present, as conventional top-pumping methods are not effective and create cramped spaces for vibration tools.

Innovation Solution

Fiber-reinforced concrete is pumped into the pipe from the bottom, allowing for easier access and vibration from the top, which facilitates even distribution and compaction, and can be combined with existing reinforcement methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If fiber-reinforced concrete is pumped into the pipe from the top, then the concrete can be filled into the pipe, but the vibration of the fiber-reinforced concrete becomes awkward and ineffective due to cramped space

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of vibrationVSAvoidfilling efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional filling direction by pumping fiber-reinforced concrete into the pipe from the bottom upward through a lead-in, rather than from the top downward. This inversion resolves the technical contradiction by providing adequate space for vibration tools to operate effectively from the top of the pipe while still achieving complete filling of the pipe with concrete.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If vibration means are taken inside the pump from the top, then the concrete can be vibrated, but the space is too cramped to perform vibration effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccess for vibration toolsVSAvoidconcrete compaction quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by filling concrete from the bottom rather than the top, which creates sufficient space from the top of the pipe for vibration tools to be inserted and operated effectively. This inversion simultaneously improves ease of operation and ensures proper concrete compaction quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Productivity

If the pipe is vibrated from the side from outside, then vibration can be performed, but it is not very effective for small-diameter pipes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration effectivenessVSAvoidvibration method complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional side-vibration approach by enabling top-down vibration through internal insertion of vibration tools. This is achieved by filling concrete from the bottom, which leaves the top of the pipe accessible for inserting vibration tools directly into the concrete, thereby improving vibration effectiveness without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Strength

If bracket reinforcement is present inside the pipe, then structural strength is improved, but the space for vibration tools becomes even more limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural strengthVSAvoidaccess for vibration tools
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the filling direction to pump concrete from the bottom upward, which preserves the full space at the top of the pipe for inserting and operating vibration tools, even when bracket reinforcement is present inside the pipe. This inversion ensures that vibration tools can access the concrete effectively despite the presence of reinforcement brackets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

5Productivity

If fibers of fiber-reinforced concrete spheroidize during pumping, then the concrete can be pumped, but the even distribution of fibers is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepumping efficiencyVSAvoidfiber distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the pumping direction to pump concrete from the bottom upward through a lead-in, which prevents fiber spheroidization and maintains even fiber distribution. This bottom-up pumping approach allows fibers to remain aligned and evenly distributed throughout the concrete while still achieving efficient pumping into the pipe.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

This approach enhances the manufacturing efficiency and structural strength of fiber-reinforced concrete columns, making them suitable for composite structures in construction, such as office and industrial facilities, by ensuring even fiber distribution and easy integration with bracket reinforcements.

Implementation Method 1

the pipe is filled with fiber-reinforced concrete simultaneously with vibrating the pipe, and preferably also the concrete

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Data Source

PatentEP2231954B1Method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced concrete column used in the construction industry
Publication Date: 2020.07.01 NORDEC OY
  • EP2231954B1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP2231954B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for manufacturing a fiber-reinforced concrete column (1 ) used in the construction industry, in which method one or more pipes (6), such as a steel pipe, is brought to a base (3), and fixed to the aforementioned base, after which the pipe is filled with fiber-reinforced concrete (2), simultaneously vibrating the concrete and/or the pipe, and in which method the pipe is filled with fiber-reinforced concrete via a lead-in (7) in the bottom part of the pipe. The invention also relates to a fiber-reinforced concrete column.