Frangibility Device for Preferential Breakage in Cured Concrete Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for creating a preferential breakage plane within cured columns, such as rigid inclusions and vibratory concrete columns, are imprecise, labor-intensive, and lack reliability and scalability.
Innovation Solution
A frangibility device comprising a disc and an elongate strut is inserted into the uncured column, rotated to create a helical slice through the material, and left in place during curing to create a breakage plane, allowing the column to snap off at the desired elevation after curing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If hand tools or specialized cutoff equipment are used to trim RIs/VCCs, then the column can be cut to desired height, but the process is imprecise and labor intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The frangibility device is inserted and positioned within the uncured column before the cutoff operation. The device creates a pre-defined weakness plane at the exact desired cutoff elevation, so that when the column is later trimmed, it breaks precisely at the pre-determined location rather than requiring precise cutting operations
Solution Approach 2:
The frangibility device acts as an intermediary element inserted into the column material. This device creates a controlled weakness that mediates the cutoff process, allowing the column to break at the desired elevation without requiring precise mechanical cutting operations
2Length of moving object
If cutoffs over three feet are performed, then deep column reductions are achieved, but specialized cutoff equipment is required and quality/integrity is hard to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The frangibility device is inserted at the desired cutoff depth before any trimming occurs. This preliminary positioning establishes the exact break point in advance, eliminating the need for complex specialized equipment to achieve deep or precise cutoffs
Solution Approach 2:
The frangibility device is a simple, disposable element that is inserted into the column and then discarded or left in place after serving its purpose of creating the weakness plane. This replaces the need for expensive, complex specialized cutoff equipment
3Ease of operation
If the frangibility device is inserted during uncured phase, then the device can be easily positioned, but the device must remain reliable during hardening
Solution Approach 1:
The frangibility device exploits the change in material parameters from uncured to cured state. During the uncured phase, the material is soft and pliable, allowing easy insertion and positioning of the device. During the cured phase, the material hardens and maintains the device in its positioned state, creating a reliable, permanent weakness plane at the desired location
Data Source
AI summary
A frangibility device for creating a preferred breakage plane or weakness within cured columns such as rigid inclusions (RIs) and/or vibratory concrete columns (VCCs) comprises a cutting disc, an elongate strut attached to the center of the disc, and a detachable handle for turning. The disc comprises a thin geometric plate slit from center to periphery, so that a slicing wing can be bent downward at a shallow angle from the slit. The slicing wing advances the cutting disc through the cementious material of the uncured column. When the disc reaches the desired depth, the handle is removed and both disc and strut are left in place during curing.