FRP Tendon Anchorage System with Adhesive Wedge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current anchorage systems face issues with corrosion susceptibility in steel tendons, premature fibre rupture in composite materials, and excessive bond length requirements in bond type systems, leading to increased costs and space constraints.
Innovation Solution
The anchorage system employs fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tendons with unwound secondary wires inserted into an anchor head casing filled with an adhesive medium, minimizing bond length and utilizing non-metallic materials for the anchor head and bearing plate to reduce corrosion and enhance load resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel tendons are used in anchorage systems, then strength and load resistance are improved, but corrosion susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces steel tendons with fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) tendons, which are composite materials combining fibres (glass, aramid, or carbon) with polymer matrices. These FRP tendons provide the required strength and load resistance while being inherently corrosion-resistant, eliminating the corrosion protection issues associated with steel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material composition parameter of the tendon from metal (steel) to composite material (FRP), fundamentally altering the corrosion susceptibility while maintaining or improving strength characteristics for the anchorage application.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bond type anchorage systems are used, then corrosion resistance is improved, but bond length requirements increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the bond-type mechanical anchoring system with a wedge-type mechanical system. The FRP tendon is inserted into a wedge-shaped barrel that is compressed into a tapered aperture in the anchor block, creating a mechanical interlock that eliminates the need for long bond lengths while providing corrosion resistance through the FRP material.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If long bond length is used in bond type systems, then corrosion protection is improved, but material costs and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes the bond-type system with a wedge-type mechanical system that achieves corrosion protection through material selection (FRP) rather than through extended bond length, thereby reducing installation complexity and material requirements while maintaining corrosion resistance.
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 configuration increases the surface area for frictional resistance, allowing the system to support higher loads with reduced anchor head bond length, thereby reducing material and labour costs while improving installation efficiency and corrosion resistance.
Implementation Method 1
This configuration increases the surface area for frictional resistance, allowing the system to support higher loads with reduced anchor head bond length
Data Source
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AI summary
An anchorage system is provided which includes: a composite tendon (2) comprising an assembly of elongate elements (4, 5) held together and an anchor head including a casing (6). The individual elongate elements (4, 5) are separated from each other at one end extending into the anchor head, and the anchor head casing (6) is filled with an adhesive medium (10) to secure the separated elements (4, 5) in the casing (6). A method for installing an anchorage system is also provided including the steps of: inserting in a borehole at least one composite tendon (2) comprising an assembly of elongate elements (4, 5) held together; separating the individual elongate elements (4, 5) from each other over a pre-determined bonded anchor head length (22); placing an anchor head casing (6) around the separated elements (4, 5); and filling the anchor head casing (6) with an adhesive medium (10), whereby once the adhesive medium has set, the separated elements (4, 5) are securely fixed into the anchor head (6).