Thermal Insulation Component with Angled Separating Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally insulating components between concrete components, such as building walls and ceilings, face challenges in accommodating large relative movements due to thermal expansion, leading to high dynamic loads on reinforcement elements and potential structural damage, especially when expansion joints are not closely integrated.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of separating elements that protrude into the concrete components and are oriented at an angle between 90°+60° and 90°-60° relative to the insulating body, allowing for controlled cracking and expansion, which compensates for relative movements without excessive load on reinforcement elements, and can be designed as flexible films, tear plates, or rigid elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional reinforcement systems are used to connect concrete components, then structural strength is maintained, but large relative movements due to thermal expansion cannot be accommodated, leading to high dynamic loads on reinforcement elements
Solution Approach 1:
The concrete component is segmented by introducing separating elements that create predetermined crack locations, dividing the continuous concrete structure into sections that can move relative to each other while maintaining overall structural integrity through the insulating body and reinforcement elements
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating body serves as an intermediary element between the two concrete components, providing thermal insulation while also accommodating relative movements. The separating elements act as intermediaries that initiate controlled cracking to facilitate movement accommodation
2Adaptability or versatility
If the flexural slenderness of static components is used to compensate for relative displacement, then some movement accommodation is achieved, but only limited compensation is possible and large displacements can still cause structural damage
Solution Approach 1:
Separating elements are预先 placed in the concrete components to create predetermined crack locations before thermal expansion occurs. This preliminary action ensures that when relative movements happen, cracking occurs at controlled locations rather than causing unexpected structural damage
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating body with its specific rigidity characteristics serves as a cushioning element that absorbs and accommodates relative movements between concrete components, protecting the reinforcement elements from excessive dynamic loads before they can cause damage
3Adaptability or versatility
If thrust bearings with curved sliding surfaces are used to allow relative movements, then movement accommodation is improved, but high dynamic loads and noise occur in the area of end faces
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful sliding contact interface is extracted from the system by allowing direct abutment of the insulating body against the concrete components. This eliminates the thrust bearing's sliding surfaces and their associated noise and dynamic load problems, transferring the movement accommodation function to the insulating body itself
4Adaptability or versatility
If Pressure bearings are used that are flush with the insulating body, then movement accommodation is achieved, but relative movements still lead to high dynamic loads on the pressure bearing
Solution Approach 1:
The separating elements are designed to be consumed or damaged in a controlled manner through predetermined cracking. This sacrificial approach protects the more critical pressure bearing and reinforcement elements from high dynamic loads, as the separating elements absorb the movement stresses
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 solution enables large relative movements between concrete components without causing significant dynamic loads on reinforcement elements, reducing noise and structural damage by allowing for synchronized expansion and crack formation, effectively managing thermal-induced displacements.
Implementation Method 1
form predetermined crack locations therein for temperature-related changes in length relative to the other concrete component
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3b
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a structural element for the thermal insulation of two load-bearing concrete components (1, 3) separated by a joint, in particular a building ceiling and a balcony slab, wherein the structural element (2) comprises an insulating body (4) extending in the joint and reinforcement elements (5) at least for absorbing compressive and shear forces. It is essential that the structural element (2) has additional separating elements (6) which project into at least one of the two concrete components (1, 3) and generate cracks (7) therein when thermally induced in length changes relative to the other concrete component (1, 3), and that the separating elements (6) are oriented approximately in a direction inclined to the longitudinal extent L of the insulating body (4) at an angle between 90° + 60° and 90° - 60°, and in particular on the order of approximately 90°.