Radiused Bearing Interface for Misaligned Structural Supports
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing structural supports face challenges when mating surfaces of a structure and its support are misaligned, requiring unique interfaces like steel weldments or shims, which are costly and inefficient for multiple misaligned structures.
Innovation Solution
A support-to-structure interface device with adjustable orientation, featuring radiused bearing surfaces and a fastener system, allowing rotation and alignment adjustment to engage misaligned surfaces effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If unique custom interfaces are fabricated for each misaligned structure, then proper load transfer is achieved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device is designed as a universal component that can accommodate multiple misaligned structures through adjustable bearing surfaces. Instead of fabricating unique interfaces for each structure, a single interface device type can be used across multiple applications by adjusting the orientation of its bearing surfaces to match different misalignment angles, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining load transfer capability
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable bearing surfaces that can be oriented at different angles to accommodate varying misalignments. This dynamic adaptability allows the same hardware to be reused across multiple structures with different alignment requirements, eliminating the need for custom fabrication for each case
2Strength
If steel weldments with oriented plates and gusset plates are used to engage misaligned surfaces, then structural strength is provided, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface device combines multiple functional elements (bearing surfaces, orientation adjustment mechanisms, and connection hardware) into a single integrated component. This merging eliminates the need for separate steel weldments, oriented plates, and gusset plates, thereby maintaining structural strength while significantly reducing interface complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated interface device performs multiple functions within a single component: it provides structural strength through its load-bearing design, accommodates misalignment through adjustable bearing surfaces, and simplifies installation by eliminating the need for complex field fabrication of multiple separate elements
3Reliability
If multiple unique interface devices are fabricated for multiple misaligned supports, then each structure is properly supported, but time and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
A single type of interface device can be used to support multiple structures with different misalignment angles by adjusting the orientation of its bearing surfaces. This universality eliminates the need to fabricate and install unique interface devices for each support, thereby significantly improving installation efficiency and reducing time and resource consumption while maintaining reliable structural support
Solution Approach 2:
The interface device is designed with pre-configurable bearing surfaces that can be adjusted to accommodate various misalignment angles during installation. This preliminary design consideration allows for quick adaptation to different structures without requiring time-consuming custom fabrication, thereby improving productivity
Data Source
AI summary
Support-to-structure interface devices and methods for supporting a structure are disclosed. The interface devices include mounting surfaces having relative orientations that can be varied to accommodate misalignments in mating surfaces between a support, for example, a column, and a structure, for example, an overhead beam. The interface devices include a top assembly adapted to engage a structure and a bottom assembly adapted to engage a support, where the top assembly and the bottom assembly have radiused bearing surfaces that allow the assemblies to vary their relative orientations to address any misalignment between a support and a structure. The top assembly and the bottom assembly may be connected by a tether, for example, a tether mounted to tether plates. Though uniquely adapted for highly loaded bridge and overpass construction, aspects of the invention can be adapted for use in a broad range of applications requiring engagement of misaligned supports and structures.