Building Element With Longitudinal Tube For Concrete Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing building elements with transverse webs are prone to damage during transportation and concrete placement, leading to failure due to improper handling and excessive hydrostatic pressure, especially when using high slump concrete, which can cause distortion and voids in the concrete fill, affecting the structure's strength and waterproofing.
Innovation Solution
A hollow elongated building element with longitudinally extending side walls and transverse webs, featuring at least one longitudinally extending tube connected by flanges, allowing for transverse or longitudinal movement, and equipped with apertures for concrete flow, providing a robust three-dimensional formwork that can handle high concrete pressure and reduce damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If high slump concrete is used to improve flowability and eliminate waterproof membranes, then concrete flow through the element is facilitated and waterproofing is improved, but excessive hydrostatic pressure damages the building elements causing distortion and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a two-dimensional web structure to a three-dimensional framework by adding longitudinal tubes that extend along the length of the element. These tubes create a new spatial dimension for load distribution, allowing the structure to better withstand hydrostatic pressure from high slump concrete while maintaining flowability benefits
2Strength
If transverse webs are used to provide structural support, then the element maintains shape and rigidity, but the webs are damaged during transportation and concrete placement leading to element failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the structural support function between transverse webs and longitudinal tubes. The longitudinal tubes segment the internal space and provide additional structural pathways that are less susceptible to damage during handling and concrete placement, while transverse webs maintain their shape-providing function
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the element are given different functional qualities: longitudinal tubes provide damage-resistant structural support and concrete flow pathways, while transverse webs provide shape maintenance. This localized functional differentiation allows each component to excel at its specific task without compromising overall element reliability
3Strength
If conventional reinforcing steel bars are used to strengthen the structure, then structural strength is improved, but horizontal reinforcing bars are susceptible to corrosion at panel joints and require waterproof membranes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the waterproofing function from separate membranes and integrates it into the polymer element itself through its inherent material properties. This eliminates the need for external waterproof membranes that would protect reinforcing steel, thereby removing the corrosion pathway while maintaining structural strength through the polymer-concrete composite action
Data Source
AI summary
An elongated building element (14) having a pair of longitudinally extending generally parallel co-extensive side walls (15) joined by transverse webs (16). The walls (15) and webs (16) enclose a longitudinally extending space (30) within which there is located a tube (31). The tube (31) is connected to the walls (15) and webs (16) by flanges (33). The tube (31) provides a space (33) with the spaces (30, 33) being intended to be filled with concrete. The building element (14) is intended to be attached to light elements (14) to form a wall.