Insulating Plate Stud Geometry for Stronger Pipe-Retaining Floor Panels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Thermally insulating plates with studs for heated concrete floor slabs have low mechanical strength due to material nature and stud profile, leading to breakage during handling and assembly, which results in debris in the concrete, aesthetic and structural defects, and limitations in hydraulic circuit placement and storage.
Innovation Solution
The studs have transverse grooves with side faces without undercut and a widened base, and the lower face features complementary cavities, allowing for inclined and parallel arrangement, enhanced sliding resistance, and space-saving stacking, along with bosses for hydraulic line spacers and varied stud configurations for improved mechanical strength and thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If studs are made with vertical profile and transverse grooves for pipe retention, then hydraulic circuit placement is enabled, but mechanical strength decreases and breakage occurs during handling
Solution Approach 1:
The stud is divided into multiple functional zones: an enlarged base for strength, a shaft portion with transverse grooves for pipe retention, and side faces without undercut for handling. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The stud employs asymmetric geometry with an enlarged base that is wider than the shaft portion above it. This asymmetric profile with side faces without undercut provides both mechanical strength at the base and facilitates handling by preventing foot penetration during installation.
2Ease of operation
If plates are stacked with lower face against ground, then storage space is wasted, but handling is simplified
Solution Approach 1:
The plate features cavities on the lower face that receive the studs of adjacent plates during stacking. This nesting arrangement allows plates to be stacked vertically with studs fitting into cavities, achieving compact storage while maintaining structural integrity and ease of handling.
3Strength
If reinforcing plastic film is applied to studs, then mechanical strength is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stud is manufactured as a composite structure integrating the insulating material with reinforcing elements directly formed as enlarged bases. This composite design provides enhanced mechanical strength without requiring separate plastic film application, simplifying installation and reducing costs.
4Ease of operation
If grooves are added to studs for pipe retention, then hydraulic circuit assembly is facilitated, but stud mechanical strength decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The stud is divided into multiple functional zones: an enlarged base for strength, a shaft portion with transverse grooves for pipe retention, and side faces without undercut for handling. This segmentation allows each zone to optimize its specific function while maintaining overall structural integrity.
Data Source
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Figure 4~5
AI summary
The plate has an upper face provided with contiguous corner supports (1) for fixing hydraulic pipes, and a lower face for forming a support pedestal, where the plate is made of cellular material. The corner supports are provided with undercut lateral faces and with perpendicular and transversal grooves (10) in which the pipes are retained. A trapezoid vertical section of each corner support has a dome shaped profile with a widened base. The lower face includes cavities of a profile complementary to that of the corner supports.