Road Joint Element with Impermeable Seal for Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing joint sealing methods in road construction, such as joint tapes and casting compounds, create an impermeable barrier in water-permeable paving tracks, preventing water drainage when used in drainage asphalt or porous asphalt surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An element for road construction that includes a base body with a first impermeable part facing the grouting material, allowing water to drain by creating a free space and using flexible contact elements that adapt to different joint widths, ensuring no complete filling and maintaining water permeability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If joint tapes or casting compounds are used to seal joints in water-permeable paving tracks, then the joint sealing is improved, but water drainage is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The joint closure element is divided into distinct functional parts: an upper sealing part that contacts the joint flanks to prevent grouting material penetration, and a lower drainage part that extends into the joint base to maintain water permeability. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function without interfering with the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the joint closure element have different properties: the upper part is made impermeable to grouting material to ensure sealing, while the lower part is made water-permeable to maintain drainage functionality. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between sealing and drainage.
2Reliability
If an impermeable barrier is created to prevent grouting material penetration, then the joint sealing is improved, but water drainage capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The element is segmented vertically into an upper impermeable section for sealing and a lower permeable section for drainage. This spatial segmentation allows the impermeable barrier function to be localized only where needed (at the joint flanks) while preserving drainage pathways in the joint base.
Solution Approach 2:
The element exhibits local quality differentiation where the upper portion is impermeable to grouting material to ensure sealing reliability, while the lower portion is water-permeable to maintain drainage productivity. This localized property assignment resolves the contradiction.
3Reliability
If the joint depth is increased to improve sealing, then the joint closure is improved, but water drainage is further compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The joint closure element is segmented such that the impermeable sealing function is concentrated in the upper portion contacting the joint flanks, while the lower portion extending into the joint base maintains water permeability. This segmentation allows deep joint closure without compromising drainage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different vertical zones of the element have different permeability properties: the upper zone is impermeable to grouting material for sealing, while the lower zone is water-permeable for drainage. This local quality differentiation enables deep joint closure while preserving drainage functionality.
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
Enables effective drainage of water through joints in road construction, particularly in water-permeable materials, by preventing the creation of a complete impermeable barrier and allowing water to flow along the slope, thus maintaining the drainage functionality of the road surface.
Implementation Method 1
a first part facing the grouting material, which is essentially impermeable to the grouting material
Implementation Method 2
This contact element can preferably be designed to be flexible, and in particular is also designed to be set up in order to adapt to different joint widths
Implementation Method 3
through which water can drain, so that no barrier is created in a cover layer for water, and this rather drain in the direction of the slope above the barrier layer
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The system (10) has groove flanks (16), a groove base (18), a grouting material (22) and an element (24), which is arranged at groove base. The element has a base body (26) and a component that faces the grouting material, where the component is impermeable for the grouting material. An independent claim is included for an element.