Building Joint Structural Element with Trough-Shaped Shell

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing components for sound-insulating and force-transmitting connections in building joints, such as stair landings, face challenges in efficiently transmitting forces while maintaining soundproofing, often requiring complex structures and high production costs, and are not adaptable to various installation conditions.

Innovation Solution

A modular component design featuring a separating plate with trough-shaped openings for reinforcement elements, which pass through formwork bodies to ensure soundproofing and force transmission without the need for reinforcement rods to extend between building parts, allowing for flexible adaptation to different installation scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If reinforcement rods pass through the separating plate to connect building parts, then force transmission is improved, but sound transmission increases and sound insulation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforce transmissionVSAvoidsound transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The separating plate is segmented into multiple layers: hard outer layers for force transmission and a soft intermediate layer for sound insulation. The reinforcement rods are segmented into separate segments within the soft layer rather than passing continuously through, maintaining structural connection while breaking sound transmission paths.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The soft intermediate layer acts as an intermediary between the hard outer layers and the reinforcement rods. This intermediate layer provides acoustic damping and vibration isolation, allowing force transmission through the rods while blocking sound transmission between building parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If reinforcement rods are anchored in the soft intermediate layer, then sound insulation is improved, but the thickness of the building element increases and adjacent parts must be spaced further apart

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidthickness of building element
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The thickness and density parameters of the soft intermediate layer are optimized to achieve sufficient acoustic damping with minimal thickness. The layer is designed with specific material properties that provide high sound insulation per unit thickness, reducing the overall element thickness requirement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If a stepped cross-section with inclined partition plate legs is used, then sound insulation is improved through overlap, but the structure becomes complex and production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The separating plate uses a multi-layer segmented structure with hard outer layers and a soft intermediate layer, replacing the complex stepped single-layer structure. This segmentation achieves sound insulation through material properties rather than geometric complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes from geometric sound insulation (stepped structure) to material-based sound insulation (soft intermediate layer). This parameter change from shape to material properties simplifies the overall structure while maintaining acoustic performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a stepped cross-section is used, then sound insulation is improved, but tolerance during installation becomes extremely low and connection work becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidinstallation tolerance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The separating plate uses a flat cross-section with sound insulation achieved through material properties (soft intermediate layer) rather than geometric shape. This eliminates the sensitivity to installation tolerance associated with inclined surfaces, allowing for easier and more accurate installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

5Object-affected harmful factors

If the separating plate has a stepped course, then sound insulation is improved, but the parting plane becomes undefined and leads to problems with connection work and flooring

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesound insulationVSAvoidparting plane definition
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The separating plate uses a flat cross-section with horizontal parting surfaces, changing from a stepped geometric configuration to a planar structure. Sound insulation is achieved through the soft intermediate layer material rather than through stepped geometry, maintaining a well-defined parting plane for connection work and flooring installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design simplifies assembly, reduces costs, and ensures effective soundproofing and force transmission across various installation conditions, including stair landings and building ceilings or walls, by separating soundproofing and force transmission functions, and allows for easy adjustment of component dimensions and positions.

Implementation Method 1

the rebars are passed through openings provided in the separating plate and anchored in the structural element in the soft intermediate layer of the separating plate, which dampens the transmission of vibrations between the outer layers and between the outer layers and the rebars

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2481867B1Construction element for installation in building joints
Publication Date: 2015.04.01 SCHOECK BAUTEILE GMBH
  • EP2481867B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2481867B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2481867B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4c

AI summary

The invention relates to a structural element for installation in separation joints (C) of buildings, in particular at stair landings (A), for sound-insulating, force-transmitting connection of adjoining building parts (A, B) on both sides, consisting of a separation plate (3) and reinforcement elements (7) passing through it, wherein the separation plate (3) has at least one opening (3f) for a reinforcement element, wherein the separation plate has a trough-shaped shell body (4) in the area of ​​the opening, which projects from the separation plate into the first (B) of the two adjacent building parts, wherein the reinforcement element (7) projects from the second (A) of the two building parts through the opening (3f) into the shell body (4), and wherein the reinforcement element is fixed to the separation plate and/or the shell body.