Extruded Concrete Crack Inducer with Drainage Channel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Concrete shrinkage during curing leads to unpredictable cracking, requiring costly and labor-intensive saw cutting for controlled crack placement, and subsequent sealing to prevent freeze damage, which is also costly and requires frequent maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An extruded member is secured to the subgrade before concrete pouring, inducing a weak vertical plane that expands to create a drainage channel as the concrete shrinks, eliminating the need for saw cutting and joint sealants, and supporting load transfer devices like dowels and re-bar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If saw cutting is used to control crack location, then crack location control is improved, but time consumption and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by inserting crack inducer devices into the concrete before the concrete cures. These devices are positioned at desired crack locations in advance, and as the concrete shrinks during curing, cracks form at the predetermined locations around the devices, eliminating the need for subsequent saw cutting operations.
2Manufacturing precision
If saw cutting is used to control crack location, then crack location control is improved, but labor cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable crack inducer devices that are inexpensive to manufacture and install. These devices are inserted into the concrete at desired locations and serve their purpose by inducing cracks as the concrete cures. The devices themselves are temporary and do not need to be recovered, representing a cost-effective alternative to expensive saw cutting operations.
3Ease of manufacture
If cracks are left unsealed, then maintenance cost is reduced, but freeze damage occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts harmful water from the concrete structure by providing drainage channels that allow water to drain away from the crack areas. The crack inducer devices incorporate channels that extend to the surface, enabling water to drain freely from within the concrete, thereby preventing water accumulation that would cause freeze-thaw damage without requiring sealants.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If sealant is applied to cracks, then freeze damage is prevented, but material cost and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water infiltration into a beneficial drainage system. Instead of trying to prevent water entry with sealants, the crack inducer devices incorporate drainage channels that actively channel water away from vulnerable areas. This transforms the potential harm of water infiltration into a useful drainage function, preventing freeze damage without requiring expensive sealant materials.
5Object-affected harmful factors
If sealant is applied to cracks, then freeze damage is prevented, but maintenance frequency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service drainage system where the crack inducer devices with integrated drainage channels continuously and passively drain water from the concrete structure. This self-draining mechanism operates automatically without requiring periodic human intervention or maintenance, unlike sealant applications that must be periodically reapplied. The drainage function is built into the permanent concrete structure itself.
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 solution effectively controls crack location, reduces maintenance costs, prevents freeze damage, and maintains aggregate interlock, providing a durable and economical drainage system for concrete structures.
Implementation Method 1
After concrete is poured, it shrinks as it cures. Such shrinkage inherently causes cracking in the concrete at arbitrary locations and spacing.
Implementation Method 2
the shrinking action of the concrete causes the legs of the extrusion member to spread apart, thereby opening a channel at the bottom of the extrusion member
Implementation Method 3
The opened channel allows any water that seeps into the crack to drain out the ends of the extrusion member for discharge to a desired location.
Data Source
AI summary
A plastic extruded member is provided which will induce cracks in concrete and provide drainage for moisture entering the cracks. The member includes a base which sets upon the subgrade surface, with a pair of legs extending upwardly from the base. Arms extend laterally outwardly from each leg. As extruded, the legs are adjacent one another, and then spread apart as the concrete cures and shrinks, thereby inducing a substantially vertical crack in the concrete above the legs. The member includes a drain channel at the lower end of the legs. The gap between the legs which is created by the shrinking cured concrete provides a path from the crack to the drain channel for draining water entering the crack.