Outdoor Floor Drainage Structure With Mortar Stringers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for constructing outdoor flooring on concrete slabs face issues such as material wastage, inadequate drainage leading to material weakening and cracking, and unsightly stains from calcite seepage, while also being inefficient in terms of material usage and requiring high-pressure cleaning precautions.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the use of rigid plastic drainage devices and in-situ constructed mortar stringers that create a discontinuous support structure, allowing efficient drainage and reduced material usage, with stringers supporting tiles directly and water flowing directly to the concrete footing, eliminating the need for a screed and reducing material consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a screed is poured over the entire surface of the concrete slab and covered with a drainage membrane, then drainage coverage is improved, but material usage and construction complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The continuous screed and membrane system is segmented into discrete drainage devices arranged in parallel lines. Each device is an independent drainage unit with relief elements and through-orifices, eliminating the need for continuous material coverage while maintaining drainage effectiveness at critical locations.
Solution Approach 2:
Drainage functionality is concentrated at specific locations where water infiltration is most likely to occur, rather than providing uniform coverage across the entire floor area. The drainage devices are positioned strategically in parallel lines to handle water flow locally, reducing overall material consumption.
2Ease of operation
If flexible drainage membranes are used, then installation ease is improved, but structural rigidity and long-term stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage devices incorporate flexible plastic components including relief elements and through-orifices that can adapt to the concrete substrate while maintaining structural integrity. The devices combine flexibility for installation with sufficient rigidity to provide stable support.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system uses composite construction combining plastic drainage devices with mortar stringers and tile adhesive. This multi-material approach provides both the flexibility needed for installation and the structural rigidity required for long-term stability and load bearing.
3Quantity of substance
If mortar is spread in localized lumps on flexible receptacles, then material usage is reduced, but structural stability and water drainage performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The mortar support is segmented into discrete stringers rather than continuous screed or localized lumps. The stringers are linear elements that provide distributed support along their length, improving structural stability while maintaining material efficiency compared to full screed coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The problematic flexible receptacle/bowl structure is extracted and replaced with rigid drainage devices and linear mortar stringers. This eliminates the water stagnation issue inherent in hollow receptacles while maintaining the localized support approach that reduces material usage.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If joints are sealed with grout to ensure watertight seal, then water infiltration is prevented, but drainage efficiency and material durability worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The grout joint sealing approach is extracted and replaced with a drainage system that actively manages water flow. Instead of trying to prevent water infiltration through sealed joints, the system provides controlled drainage paths through the drainage devices, improving both drainage efficiency and preventing water-related damage.
Solution Approach 2:
Rather than viewing water infiltration through joints as a harmful effect to be prevented, the system converts it into a beneficial drainage flow. Water that would otherwise cause damage is channeled through the drainage devices to designated drainage areas, turning a potential problem into an effective water management solution.
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 approach significantly reduces material usage by up to 50%, ensures effective drainage and rapid drying, prevents joint-related issues, and allows for high-pressure cleaning without damage, while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appeal.
Implementation Method 1
through orifices allowing the passage of water by gravity from the upper face to the lower face
Implementation Method 2
water, flowing by gravity through the porous cement mortar beams, to the drainage devices
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A method for constructing an exterior floor covering on a concrete base (2) with a slope, a support structure, and drainage (1), comprising plastic drainage devices (4) arranged in continuous parallel and spaced lines, and longitudinal mortar elements (11) laid in situ, overlapping the drainage devices (4) in lines, except for the longitudinal edges (43, 44) of said devices. Paving tiles (30) are laid and bonded over the longitudinal elements (11) without the application of a sealant joint. The drainage devices (4) are in particular in the form of drainage slabs with raised support elements that create voids between them for the passage of water under the drainage slabs, and the upper surface (41) includes through-holes.