Sealing Profile Rounded Corners Prevent Concrete Spalling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prefabricated components with integrated sealing profiles often experience spalling of the curable material, such as concrete, during installation or assembly, which compromises the integrity of the joints.
Innovation Solution
A sealing profile with a profile body that includes a profile base with rounded or chamfered corners and at least one inwardly offset anchoring foot, designed to reduce the stress concentration and prevent spalling by improving the force distribution within the moulded part.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If anchoring feet are integrated into the sealing profile for embedding into prefabricated components, then the seal can be reliably anchored in the curable material, but spalling occurs at corners of tubbings during installation or assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The profile base flanks merge into the profile base face with rounded portions instead of sharp corners. This curvature eliminates stress concentration points at the corners of the profile base, preventing spalling of the curable material during installation while maintaining the anchoring function of the feet.
Solution Approach 2:
The anchoring feet are positioned inwardly offset from the corners of the profile base, creating different functional zones: the rounded corners provide stress distribution and spalling prevention, while the inwardly positioned anchoring feet provide secure anchoring. Each location has optimized properties for its specific function.
2Ease of manufacture
If the profile base flanks merge directly into the profile base face with sharp corners, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but stress concentration occurs leading to spalling
Solution Approach 1:
Rounded portions are introduced at the corners where the profile base flanks merge into the profile base face. This simple geometric modification eliminates stress concentration and spalling risk while maintaining ease of manufacturing through standard molding techniques.
3Reliability
If anchoring feet are positioned at the corners of the profile base, then anchoring is maximized, but the curable material is weakened and spalling occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The anchoring feet are positioned inwardly offset from the corners of the profile base, creating different functional zones: the rounded corners provide stress distribution and spalling prevention, while the inwardly positioned anchoring feet provide secure anchoring. Each location has optimized properties for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The rounded portions at the profile base corners distribute stresses evenly, preventing the material weakening and spalling that would occur with sharp corners, while still allowing effective anchoring with feet positioned inwardly.
Data Source
AI summary
A sealing profile for embedding in a moulded part made of curable material. Spalling observed in practice, which occur, in particular, at corners of tubbings in the area with an integrated seal, can be effectively prevented or at least reduced by using a sealing profile where the flanks of the profile base, which is embedded within the moulded part, e.g., concrete tubbing, merge with rounded portions or chamfers into the profile base face. In addition, the at least one anchoring foot is located within the profile base face and thus outside the area of the rounded portions.