Flexible Wall Module Connection for Nuclear Safety
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of nuclear power plant buildings using prefabricated concrete components faces challenges due to high safety requirements and load cases, including extreme events, which existing connection techniques struggle to meet, leading to difficulties in assembly and load transfer.
Innovation Solution
A wall module design with flexible connecting elements that allow up to 10 millimeters of movement between reinforcing bars, enabling compensation for manufacturing and assembly inaccuracies, and providing a resilient connection to withstand extreme loads by forming a regular reinforcement grid and using non-positive connections such as screwing or bracing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If prefabricated concrete components are used for nuclear power plant construction, then standardization and optimization of planning and construction processes are improved, but connection techniques fail to meet safety requirements and cannot overcome permissible component tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is designed with a specific degree of freedom allowing movement of at least 2mm (preferably 5-10mm) relative to the reinforcing bar, changing the rigid connection parameter to a flexible one that accommodates tolerances while maintaining structural integrity under extreme loads
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting element transitions from a fixed rigid connection to a dynamic system that allows controlled movement and flexibility during assembly and under load, enabling the connection to adapt to dimensional inaccuracies and alignment deviations while maintaining reliability
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connections are used between prefabricated wall modules, then structural stability is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to inability to compensate for manufacturing and alignment inaccuracies
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element incorporates controlled flexibility allowing movement of at least 2mm in directions perpendicular to the reinforcing bar, transforming the static rigid connection into a dynamic system that absorbs assembly tolerances while maintaining structural stability when loaded
Solution Approach 2:
The connection parameter is changed from fixed to flexible by designing the connecting element with inherent movement capability, allowing it to adapt to dimensional inaccuracies during assembly while maintaining structural integrity under extreme loads
3Strength
If high reinforcement density is used to meet safety requirements, then load-bearing capacity is improved, but wall thickness increases to around 0.85m
Solution Approach 1:
The wall structure is segmented into prefabricated modules connected by flexible connecting elements, allowing the use of optimized reinforcement density in each module while the flexible connection system distributes and transfers loads efficiently across module boundaries, potentially reducing overall wall thickness
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A wall module (2) which is designed as a concrete prefabricated building element for building a structure and which can easily be assembled and connected to further such wall modules (2) to form a structure should be designed not only for usual operating loads but additionally also to withstand improbable extreme loads. To that end, the wall module (2) has a wall body (8) having a regular base area and multiple edges, with a plurality of reinforcement rods (10) which all together form a regular reinforcement grid, and which preferably each extend parallel to the edges, and which are cast into the wall body (8), the reinforcement rods (10) each penetrating the wall body (8) substantially from edge to edge, and being provided at their ends with connecting elements (6) which are designed to establish a connection with complementary connecting elements (6) of an immediately adjacent wall element (2), and each connecting element (6) being connected with clearance to the associated reinforcement rod (10) such that it can be moved in a plane which is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the reinforcement rod (10) on all sides by at least 2 mm with respect to a provided central position.