Recyclable Formwork with Embedded Concrete Temperature Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional plastic formworks are expensive, have high initial investment costs, and lack effective management of curing time variations across different construction structures, making them impractical for widespread use despite their environmental benefits.
Innovation Solution
A recyclable formwork design featuring a main unit with a contact surface, non-contact surface, and ribs, housing a sensor-housing case with a concrete temperature-detecting sensor that can be reused, allowing precise measurement of concrete surface temperature and detection of concrete contact, enabling effective management of curing time and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If plastic formworks are used to replace wooden panels, then environmental load is reduced and cost per use is lowered, but initial investment cost increases and management of curing time becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork system performs self-monitoring through embedded sensors that automatically detect concrete temperature and curing progress without requiring external intervention. The sensor housing case enables the formwork to service itself by providing integrated measurement capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor provides feedback information about concrete curing conditions, enabling management personnel to monitor and adjust curing processes based on actual temperature data, thereby solving the management difficulty of varying curing times across different structures.
2Productivity
If plastic formworks are used to replace wooden panels, then cost per use is reduced, but initial investment cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the functional parameters of the formwork by integrating sensor capabilities, transforming it from a passive structural element to an active monitoring system. This enables better utilization and management, justifying the higher initial investment through improved productivity and reduced waste.
3Measurement precision
If temperature sensors are added to plastic formworks, then concrete temperature detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor housing case is designed as a separate, modular component that can be independently installed and removed. This segmentation allows the sensing function to be added without redesigning the entire formwork structure, thereby improving measurement precision while minimizing increases in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The temperature sensor is housed within a dedicated sensor housing case that is integrated into the formwork structure. This nested arrangement allows the sensor to be protected and positioned accurately without adding significant external complexity to the formwork system.
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 allows for precise detection of concrete temperature and curing time, ensuring the quality of cast concrete while being reusable, thus addressing the cost and management issues of conventional plastic formworks.
Implementation Method 1
a concrete temperature-detecting sensor housed in the sensor-housing case, the concrete temperature-detecting sensor detecting surface temperature of the concrete
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A recyclable formwork can suitably detect temperature of concrete cast contacting with the formwork in a field without spoiling the other functions of the formwork. The recyclable formwork is provided with: a main unit (1) including a plurality of ribs (3) and (4); a case (7) being housed between the ribs (3) and (4), the case (7) being fixed on a non-contact surface (1a); and a circuit housed in the case (7). A through-hole (16) is opened at a position corresponding to where the case (7) is fixed, the through-hole (16) penetrating the main unit (1) from the non-contact surface (1a) to a contact surface (2). A sensor-housing case (17) is provided with a lower portion of the case (7), the sensor-housing case (17) being inserted into the through-hole (16), a bottom face of the sensor-housing case (17) facing concrete. And, a concrete temperature-detecting sensor (19) for detecting surface temperature of the concrete is housed in the sensor-housing case (17).