Expansion Joint Bridging Device with Embedded Holding Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing expansion joint bridging devices in roadways face issues with mechanical resilience, peeling under compressive or tensile stresses, and maintenance costs due to inadequate reinforcement and adhesion between the superstructure and substructure.
Innovation Solution
The device incorporates at least one holding element embedded in the superstructure, formed as an angle profile with legs reaching into the elastic element, and uses a polyurea or polyurea system for the elastic element, which is cast on-site, providing improved adhesion and mechanical stability, and a substructure made from materials like epoxy resins or metals for enhanced load-bearing capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the superstructure is directly placed on the substructure without holding elements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the mechanical resilience and adhesion between superstructure and substructure deteriorate, causing peeling under compressive or tensile stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements are embedded within the superstructure, with their legs reaching into the elastic element. This nesting approach integrates the reinforcement function directly into the superstructure without adding external components, thereby improving mechanical resilience while minimizing increases in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The device combines the superstructure made of polyurea or polyurea system with holding elements made of angle profile material. This composite construction integrates materials with different properties to achieve both structural integrity and adhesion, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Reliability
If the contact surface between elastic element and road surface is not reinforced, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the peeling resistance under compressive or tensile stresses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements are embedded in the superstructure during the casting process, with legs extending into the elastic element. This nested configuration reinforces the contact surface and integrates adhesion improvement directly into the manufacturing process, maintaining ease of manufacture while enhancing peeling resistance.
3Strength
If a traditional elastic element material is used, then the ease of manufacture is maintained, but the ability to withstand higher forces and maintain trafficability at high temperatures deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic element is made from polyurea or polyurea system, which changes the material parameters to achieve higher strength, improved temperature resistance, and maintained trafficability. These parameter changes enable the material to withstand higher forces while maintaining ease of cast-on-site manufacture.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If the expansion joint coverage is extended, then the durability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to larger and more complex structures
Solution Approach 1:
The holding elements are divided into multiple legs that reach into the elastic element at different positions. This segmentation allows the reinforcement function to be distributed throughout the expansion joint coverage area, extending durability while keeping each individual holding element relatively simple in design.
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 configuration reduces peeling and enhances the device's mechanical resilience, allowing it to withstand higher forces, maintain trafficability at high temperatures, and extend expansion joint coverage, thereby increasing service life and reducing maintenance and installation costs.
Implementation Method 1
The elastic element is cast on-site, produced from a castable synthetic resin or plastic, in that it consists at least partially of a polyurea or polyurea system
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device (1) for bridging an expansion joint (2) in the region of a carriageway, said device comprising a superstructure (5) and a substructure (6), the superstructure (5) comprising at least one elastic element (15) and the substructure (6) forming a support for the superstructure (5). At least one holding element (19, 20) that is at least partially embedded in the elastic element is arranged in the superstructure (5).