Facade Edge Profile with Corrugated Leg for Moisture Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing edge profiles for facade elements fail to effectively manage moisture accumulation due to water penetration and condensation, leading to unwanted moisture buildup and potential structural issues like warping or breaking of facade elements.
Innovation Solution
An edge profile with a longitudinally corrugated leg surface featuring alternating elevations and depressions, providing a large bearing surface for facade elements, combined with a smooth support surface and ribs for enhanced sealing and water drainage, which prevents water from reaching the rear ventilation or insulation levels and reduces moisture accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the leg surface is made smooth to provide a large bearing surface for the facade element, then the support for the facade element is improved, but water penetration and condensation lead to moisture accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The leg surface is segmented into alternating elevations and depressions, creating a corrugated structure that divides the surface into multiple functional zones. The elevations provide bearing surfaces for support while the depressions create drainage paths for water removal, simultaneously achieving stability and moisture prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the leg surface are given different properties: the elevations have high points that provide support contact, while the depressions have low points that collect and drain water. This local differentiation allows the same surface to simultaneously provide bearing support and moisture management.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the leg surface is made corrugated with elevations and depressions to drain water, then moisture accumulation is reduced, but the bearing surface area is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugated structure provides more than enough drainage capacity through the depressions, while the elevations maintain sufficient bearing surface area. The excessive drainage capability ensures complete water removal, and the bearing surfaces are dimensioned to provide adequate support despite the reduced total area.
3Strength
If the edge profile is made rigid to maintain structural stability, then the edge profile strength is improved, but the ability to accommodate thermal expansion and contraction is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The corrugated leg surface structure changes the mechanical parameters of the edge profile, providing rigidity through the elevation-depression pattern while the inherent flexibility of the corrugated form allows for thermal expansion and contraction without compromising structural integrity.
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 reduces moisture buildup, enhances structural stability by preventing warping, and creates an additional ventilation zone for drying, while maintaining a rigid edge profile through the combination of elevations, depressions, and a smooth support surface.
Implementation Method 1
Penetrating water can run off well in the grooves behind the back of the facade element
Implementation Method 2
the corrugation creates an additional rear ventilation zone, which offers an advantageous drying effect
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The edge-profile (11a) has an edge closure surface (15) extending in longitudinal direction (L) for covering an edge of a facade element (13) and a side-arm surface (19) angular against the edge closure surface. The arm surface has an arrangement made of multiple elevations (21) and depressions (23) alternating to each other and extending parallel to the longitudinal direction. The elevations define a supporting surface (25) for the facade element, which extends away over a bigger portion of the arm surface.