Sinusoidal Mastic Beads for Insulating Block Bonding

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for bonding insulating blocks to a supporting structure in liquefied gas tanks are costly due to the extensive use of epoxy resin mastic and prone to mechanical weaknesses, particularly in plywood panels, which can lead to delamination and bending failures under pressure.

Innovation Solution

The use of sinusoidal mastic cords arranged along wavy parallel lines, with a specific ratio of period to amplitude, to enhance the bonding strength and reduce the quantity of mastic required while maintaining resistance to compressive and tensile forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If rectilinear mastic cords are used to bond insulating blocks to the supporting structure, then the bonding process is simple and straightforward, but the quantity of mastic required increases significantly, leading to higher production costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding process simplicityVSAvoidmastic quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies curvature to the mastic cords by forming them into sinusoidal (wavy) patterns instead of rectilinear shapes. This curvature allows the cords to better adapt to surface irregularities and provides more bonding surface area contact, thereby reducing the total quantity of mastic needed while maintaining effective bonding between insulating blocks and the supporting structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Quantity of substance

If the spacing between mastic cords is increased to reduce material usage, then production costs decrease, but the plywood panels become more susceptible to bending and delamination under pressure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemastic quantityVSAvoidpanel resistance to bending and delamination
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The sinusoidal curvature of the mastic cords creates a more distributed bonding pattern that better resists bending moments and delamination forces. The wavy shape provides multiple contact points along the cord length, effectively bridging larger spacing intervals while maintaining panel integrity under pressure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If numerous rectilinear mastic cords are used to ensure adequate bonding coverage, then bonding reliability is maintained, but the total length of cords required reaches several tens or even one hundred kilometers, significantly increasing production costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebonding qualityVSAvoidtotal cord length
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The sinusoidal shape increases the effective bonding surface area contact per unit length of cord, allowing for reduced cord density while maintaining bonding reliability. The curved configuration provides better adaptation to surface variations, ensuring consistent bonding performance with fewer cords

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the mastic cords from rectilinear to sinusoidal, characterized by specific period and amplitude ratios. This parameter transformation optimizes the bonding efficiency, reducing the total cord length required while maintaining or improving bonding quality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach increases the resistance to bending and delamination by 35% and 48% respectively, allowing for a 18% reduction in mastic usage without compromising the structural integrity, thereby reducing production costs.

Implementation Method 1

During assembly, the insulating block is positioned on the supporting structure using known means such that the beads of mastic are compressed, before polymerization, against the supporting structure

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymerization:

Data Source

PatentEP2283272B1Glue-fastening of insulating blocks for a liquefied-gas storage tank using undulating beads
Publication Date: 2011.11.02 GAZTRANSPORT & TECHNIGAZ SA
  • EP2283272B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2283272B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2283272B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a sealed and thermally insulated buried tank integrated into a carrier structure (1) which comprises a thermally insulating barrier including a plurality of insulation blocks (14), each insulation block including a plywood panel and containing or bearing a thermally insulating material, said insulation blocks (14) being fastened directly to the carrier structure (1) using patty beads (3) provided on the panels of said insulation blocks along parallel lines, characterised in that on the panel of at least one of said insulation blocks (14), at least two of said beads (3) are provided along parallel, wavy lines.