Preformed Vertical Access Tunnels With Removable Tubing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems require permanent cast-in-place longitudinal tubes along the entire length of bored piles for testing, leading to high costs due to unnecessary material waste.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a preformed structural cage with removable tubing that expands during concrete pouring, allowing for vertical access tunnels to be created without leaving tubes in place, using a structural cage with vertical and confining members and flexible tubing that can be pressurized to expand within the concrete.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If permanent cast-in-place longitudinal tubes are used along the entire length of bored piles for testing, then testing access is ensured, but material waste and costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the testing access system into segmented sections rather than using continuous tubes. Removable tube sections are placed only at specific testing depths, allowing access points to be created without embedding tubes along the entire pile length. This segmentation reduces material consumption while maintaining testing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the tubing from the permanent structure and makes it removable. Instead of casting tubes permanently into the concrete, the system uses removable tubes that can be inserted temporarily for testing and then removed. This extraction eliminates the need for continuous permanent tubing, significantly reducing material waste.
2Loss of substance
If removable tubing is used instead of permanent tubes, then material waste is reduced, but ensuring stable access during concrete pouring becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by expanding the removable tubing before the concrete curing process completes. The tubing is inflated to its final diameter while the concrete is still plastic and can conform to the tubing shape, ensuring stability. After curing, the tubing is deflated and removed, leaving stable access tunnels in the hardened concrete.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by transforming the tubing from a collapsed state to an expanded state through pressurization. The tubing starts in a compact, low-volume configuration for easy insertion, then expands to full diameter to provide stable support during concrete pouring and curing, and finally collapses again for removal after testing.
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
Reduces material waste and costs by creating removable access tunnels for testing, ensuring efficient and cost-effective integrity assessment of foundation structures.
Implementation Method 1
pressuring the removable tubing during or after filling the hole with concrete thereby expanding the diameter of the tubing
Data Source
AI summary
A system and a method for providing preformed vertical access tunnels for testing foundation structures is described. The system comprises a structural cage having vertical structural members and confining structural members, and tubing running generally vertically and removably attached to the structural cage. The method of providing preformed vertical access tunnels for testing foundation structures comprises providing the system and an excavated hole, introducing the system into the excavated hole, pour concrete into the hole to encase structural cage, pressuring the removable tubing thereby expanding the diameter of the tubing, allow the concrete to cure while the tubing remains expanded by pressure, de-pressuring the tubing after the concrete has cured, and extracting the tubing thereby leaving generally vertical access tunnels in the foundation for testing.