Foldable Triangular Phase Strip for Low-Waste Concrete Jointing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phase strips for reinforced concrete structures require cutting on-site, leading to waste, health hazards from plastic dust, and inefficient transportation due to fixed lengths, which are not easily recyclable.
Innovation Solution
A foldable phase strip with a triangular cross-section made from sheet material, allowing on-site cutting to desired lengths and easy storage/transport, using a sheet material strip with folding points for forming a triangular cross-section.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If phase strips are made with fixed lengths for convenient transportation, then transportation is simplified, but excessive building rubble is generated when cutting to size on construction sites
Solution Approach 1:
The phase strip is divided into modular sections that can be connected, allowing the strip to be transported in manageable lengths while being assembled to the required length on-site. This segmentation enables both convenient transportation and precise on-site customization without excessive waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase strip incorporates adjustable or extendable sections that allow it to adapt to different required lengths during construction. This dynamic capability enables the strip to be extended or reconfigured on-site to match exact project requirements, minimizing material waste while maintaining transportation efficiency.
2Shape
If plastic phase strips are used to control cracking, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but health hazards arise from cutting dust and recycling difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The material composition of the phase strip is changed from plastic to metal, fundamentally altering the properties of the material. This parameter change eliminates the health hazards associated with cutting plastic dust while maintaining the ability to create controlled cracks and achieve aesthetic appearances in concrete structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase strip is made from metal materials that can be combined with concrete structures, providing both aesthetic control and structural compatibility. This material substitution eliminates harmful dust generation during cutting while maintaining the functional and visual benefits of phase strips in concrete construction.
3Ease of operation
If ready-made phase strips of fixed length are used, then transportation is simplified, but large transport volumes are required
Solution Approach 1:
The phase strip sections are designed to nest within each other or be compacted into a small volume for transportation, then assembled to the required length on-site. This nesting capability dramatically reduces transport volume while maintaining the ability to provide sufficient phase strip length for construction applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase strip is divided into multiple smaller sections that can be transported separately in a compact form and then connected on-site to form the required length. This segmentation approach reduces the volume needed for transportation while maintaining the functional integrity of the phase strip when assembled.
4Manufacturing precision
If phase strips are cut to size on construction sites, then exact fit is achieved, but material waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The phase strip incorporates adjustable or extendable sections that allow it to adapt to different required lengths during construction. This dynamic capability enables the strip to be extended or reconfigured on-site to match exact project requirements, minimizing material waste while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The phase strip is divided into modular sections that can be connected in various configurations to achieve exact required lengths. This segmentation allows for precise customization on-site while minimizing waste by enabling efficient use of available sections through different combination possibilities.
Data Source
Figure 1A~2C
AI summary
A phase strip is a phase strip with a triangular cross-section that can be folded from a strip of sheet material, which in the starting position is either a flat or a rolled-up strip with at least one point of folding that penetrates the strip, with which the strip can be formed into a phase strip with a triangular cross-section.