Preformed Duct Bank Assembly with Self-Locking Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
The cast-in-place concrete method for encasing electrical and communication lines in underground conduits often results in construction delays due to the need for concrete delivery, pipe disturbance, and curing time, as well as the requirement for expensive equipment and potential occlusion of pipes.
Innovation Solution
A duct bank assembly with precast concrete encased conduits, featuring self-locking, self-sealing joints and shear transfer mechanisms, allowing for controlled assembly and resistance to differential loading, which can be manufactured and installed efficiently, reducing delays and ensuring stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cast-in-place concrete is used to encase conduits, then protection against adverse conditions is improved, but construction time and productivity deteriorate due to concrete delivery, curing time, and equipment requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The encasement is divided into precast concrete sections that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. Each section contains conduits already embedded during manufacturing, allowing parallel production of multiple sections while site preparation occurs, thereby reducing overall construction time while maintaining protective encasement functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The conduits and encasement are manufactured together in a precast setting before site installation. This preliminary action of embedding conduits during concrete manufacturing eliminates on-site concrete pouring and curing time, allowing sections to be produced in advance and simply assembled at the installation location
2Strength
If cast-in-place concrete is used to encase conduits, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to formwork, anchoring requirements, and coordination of multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit and encasement are merged into a single precast unit where the conduit is embedded within the concrete section during manufacturing. This integration eliminates the need for separate formwork, anchoring systems, and coordination between multiple components, reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The precast section is designed to be self-contained with the conduit already positioned and secured within the concrete matrix. The section arrives at the site ready for installation without requiring additional formwork, anchoring, or complex coordination, as all structural and positioning functions are self-provided during manufacturing
3Adaptability or versatility
If conduits are placed in excavation before concrete pour, then installation flexibility is improved, but risk of pipe disturbance and occlusion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conduits are preliminarily positioned and secured within the concrete section during precast manufacturing, before the section reaches the site. This eliminates the risk of conduit disturbance or occlusion during on-site concrete pouring, as the conduits are already permanently fixed in their final positions within the protective encasement
Solution Approach 2:
The precast concrete section acts as an intermediary that protects and secures the conduits during transport and installation. The conduits are embedded within this protective medium, which prevents disturbance from excavation activities and occlusion from concrete pouring, while still allowing installation flexibility at the site
Data Source
AI summary
A duct bank assembly may include an elongate extending conduit with a length for receiving and passing through a cable or wire and an encasing body encasing the conduit along its longitudinal extent between a first mating end and an opposed second mating end of the body. Each mating end of the at least one elongate conduit has a male or female mating end for joining with a corresponding male or female mating end of an abutting duct bank assembly in a self-locking, self-sealing joint.