Reinforcing Beam Structure to Suppress Sidewall Bulging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing reinforcing units, including beam materials and reinforcing members, often suffer from inadequate impact absorption performance due to excessive bulging deformation during collisions.

Innovation Solution

A reinforcing unit design featuring a beam material with an outer surface and side surface portions, reinforced by members that suppress bulging deformation through strategically placed side and inner plate portions, allowing controlled plastic deformation of the beam material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a separate reinforcing bar is inserted into the hollow core section after formwork removal, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the construction time and labor cost increase due to additional work after formwork removal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveload-bearing capacityVSAvoidconstruction time
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing bar is preliminarily placed inside the hollow core section during the pouring process, before formwork removal. This preliminary action eliminates the need for post-formwork reinforcement installation, thereby reducing construction time and labor costs while maintaining the required load-bearing capacity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The placement of reinforcing bars is merged with the formwork and concrete pouring process. By coordinating the reinforcement installation with the formwork assembly and concrete pouring operations, the patent eliminates separate post-formwork reinforcement steps, reducing overall construction time and labor requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Strength

If a separate reinforcing bar is inserted after formwork removal, then structural reinforcement is achieved, but the risk of misalignment and construction errors increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural reinforcementVSAvoidalignment accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing bar is preliminarily positioned within the formwork before concrete pouring, allowing for precise alignment to be established and maintained. This preliminary positioning ensures that the reinforcement bar remains correctly aligned throughout the pouring and curing processes, eliminating alignment issues that would arise from post-formwork installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The formwork serves as an intermediary structure that holds and positions the reinforcing bar during concrete pouring. This intermediary framework ensures the reinforcement bar maintains correct alignment and position throughout the construction process, preventing misalignment errors.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If the hollow core section has no reinforcement, then the manufacturing process is simpler, but the structure cannot withstand bending moments and shear forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidresistance to bending and shear
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The reinforcing system is segmented into multiple bars positioned at different locations within the hollow core section. This segmentation allows each bar to specifically resist different stress components (bending moments and shear forces), providing comprehensive structural reinforcement while maintaining a relatively simple manufacturing process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines concrete with steel reinforcing bars to create a composite structural element. This composite construction provides the necessary resistance to bending moments and shear forces while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, as the reinforcement bars are straightforward to install within the pre-formed hollow core sections.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP4365034B1Reinforcing unit
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 SUMITOMO HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP4365034B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4365034B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4365034B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A reinforcing unit that is mounted on a main body frame, includes a beam material 18, and one or more reinforcing members 20A, 20B that are mounted on the beam material 18, in which the beam material 18 includes an inner surface portion 22 that is provided on a frame side where the main body frame is located, an outer surface portion 24 that is provided on a counter-frame side that is a side opposite to the main body frame, and side surface portions 26A, 26B that connect the inner surface portion 22 and the outer surface portion 24, and the reinforcing members 20A, 20B suppress bulging deformation of the side surface portions 26A, 26B in a case where an impact load is input to the outer surface portion 24.