Formwork Element with Sacrificial Sections for Deep Trench Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing formwork elements face difficulties in extracting concrete from deep trenches due to adhesion issues, where concrete tends to stick to the formwork, making it hard to remove after hardening, especially in trenches exceeding 40 meters in depth.
Innovation Solution
The formwork element incorporates sacrificial sections made of brittle materials like polystyrene, which are strategically placed on the inner and outer faces to prevent concrete adhesion, and a fastening device that allows for easy assembly and disassembly, facilitating the use of form stripping hooks to break these sections during extraction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If formwork elements are used in deep trenches (more than 40 meters), then the concrete structure can be built to great depth, but the concrete adheres strongly to the formwork element making extraction difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The formwork element is divided into a reusable core structure (sole plate and caisson) and disposable sacrificial sections. The sacrificial sections are segmented into multiple portions that can be independently destroyed during extraction, allowing the main formwork structure to be recovered while eliminating the adhesion problem through controlled destruction of specific segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Sacrificial sections made of inexpensive, easily destroyable materials (such as wood or plastic) are attached to the formwork element. These sacrificial portions are designed to be consumed during the concreting process and destroyed during extraction, serving as a temporary barrier that prevents concrete adhesion to the valuable reusable formwork structure.
2Ease of operation
If sacrificial sections are added to the formwork element, then concrete adhesion is reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sacrificial sections are pre-assembled and attached to the formwork element before concreting begins. This preliminary preparation ensures that the anti-adhesion protection is already in place when concrete is poured, eliminating the need for additional complex mechanisms during the concreting process itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The formwork element is designed to discard the sacrificial sections during extraction while recovering the main structure (sole plate and caisson). This selective discarding and recovery process simplifies the overall system by allowing only the necessary protective portions to be consumed while maintaining the reusable core components.
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 concrete adhesion to the formwork, enabling easier and more efficient removal of the formwork elements from deep trenches by destroying the sacrificial sections, thus simplifying the form stripping process and reducing the effort required for extraction.
Implementation Method 1
the concrete has a tendency to bypass the formwork element. After hardening, the concrete adheres to the formwork element, which makes its extraction from the trench difficult
Data Source
AI summary
A formwork element for a molded wall panel end, comprising: a sole plate having a first lateral edge, a second lateral edge, an outer face, an inner face bearing a caisson, said caisson leaving free, on the inner face of the sole plate, a first lateral zone, defined between the first lateral edge and the caisson, and a second lateral zone, defined between the second lateral edge and the caisson; a form stripping assistance device cooperating with the sole plate. The form stripping assistance device includes at least one first sacrificial section comprising a first portion disposed on the first lateral zone of the inner face of the sole plate.