Connection Element with Pre-Oriented Fibers for Concrete
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing connection elements for construction elements, such as concrete walls and stairs, face challenges in efficient force transfer and distribution due to laborious and uneven installation processes, leading to decreased performance and increased risk of cracking or breaking, especially under seismic forces.
Innovation Solution
A connection element comprising a fiber bundle with a matrix material, featuring a solid section and a flexible section where the bundle fibers are pre-oriented and attached to a forming element, allowing for easy and fast installation by limiting fiber flexibility and ensuring uniform distribution, thereby enhancing force transfer and distribution capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If dry fibers are manually spread on the wall around the hole, then the connection element can be installed, but the fibers break and are unevenly distributed during the manual process
Solution Approach 1:
The bundle fibers are pre-oriented and attached to a forming element within the flexible section before installation. This preliminary arrangement ensures uniform fiber distribution and prevents breakage during installation, as the fibers are already positioned in their final orientation on the forming element structure.
2Productivity
If dry fibers are manually spread on the wall, then installation can proceed, but the installation process becomes laborious and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The fibers are pre-oriented and attached to the forming element during manufacturing, eliminating the need for manual spreading during installation. This preliminary preparation significantly reduces installation time and labor requirements, as the entire flexible section with pre-positioned fibers can be installed as a single unit.
Solution Approach 2:
The bundle fibers and forming element are combined into a single integrated flexible section assembly. This merging allows the fibers to be installed simultaneously with the forming element in one operation, rather than requiring separate steps for fiber placement and forming element installation.
3Ease of operation
If the bundle fibers are free and flexible, then they can be easily handled, but they break easily and cannot maintain uniform orientation
Solution Approach 1:
The bundle fibers are pre-oriented and attached to the forming element structure, which provides mechanical support and maintains fiber orientation. This preliminary attachment prevents fiber breakage while preserving ease of handling, as the fibers are secured in their final position before installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The forming element acts as a flexible structure that holds and orientates the bundle fibers. This flexible support structure allows the fiber assembly to be easily handled and adapted to the wall surface while preventing individual fiber breakage through the protective and orienting effect of the forming element.
4Manufacturing precision
If the bundle fibers are attached to a forming element in the flexible section, then uniform fiber orientation and force distribution are achieved, but the flexibility of the bundle fibers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The forming element is designed as a flexible structure that provides guidance and orientation for the bundle fibers while maintaining overall flexibility. This flexible forming element allows the fiber assembly to adapt to the wall surface contour while ensuring uniform fiber orientation through its guiding structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The forming element provides dynamic flexibility, allowing the bundle fibers to adapt to different wall surfaces and installation conditions while maintaining their pre-oriented configuration. The forming element's flexibility enables the system to accommodate various geometries without compromising fiber orientation uniformity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the building industry and specifically to connection elements (1) for construction elements, e.g. concrete elements. Such connection elements (1) are also known as anchorages or open end connectors and are used for example to transfer and distribute forces, to interconnect construction elements (12), to repair concrete walls or as a structural strengthening. The connection element (1) comprises a fiber bundle being impregnated with a matrix material to form a monolithic structure in a solid section (2) of the connection element (1) and being flexible within a flexible section (3) of the connection element (1). Surprisingly the installation and force distribution of such a connection element (1) can be improved by attaching the fibers of the fiber bundle - the bundle fibers (4) - to a flexible forming element (5) within the flexible section (3) such that the bundle fibers (4) adapt to the form of the forming element (5).