Concrete Deck Demolition Using Tilted Blade Geometry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current concrete deck demolition methods often damage bridge superstructures, pose safety risks, and are inefficient due to the need for temporary supports and the risk of falling debris, noise, vibration, and environmental concerns.
Innovation Solution
A concrete deck demolition system utilizing a double-bladed road-saw with tilted blades that makes simultaneous tilted cuts, eliminating the need for temporary supports by creating access windows and using wedges to prevent falling debris, allowing for safe lifting and minimizing damage to existing structures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional deck demolition methods (jackhammering, blasting) are used, then the concrete deck can be removed, but the bridge superstructure is damaged and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The concrete deck is segmented into manageable panels by making controlled cuts with the road saw. The deck is divided into sections that can be individually lifted and removed, preventing uncontrolled breaking that would damage the superstructure
Solution Approach 2:
Access windows are cut into the deck and temporary supports are installed before the main demolition operation. The tilted cuts are made in advance to create stable geometries that prevent falling debris during the lifting operation
2Reliability
If temporary supports are installed to prevent falling debris, then safety is improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
Access windows are cut and initial tilted cuts are made before installing temporary supports. This preliminary action creates stable geometries that reduce the complexity and time of support installation
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of installing extensive supports to prevent falling, the tilted blade geometry is designed to direct debris upward and outward, inverting the usual approach of catching falling objects
3Productivity
If a double-bladed road-saw with tilted blades is used, then the need for temporary supports is eliminated and productivity increases, but the complexity of the demolition system increases
Solution Approach 1:
Two cutting functions are merged into a single road-saw machine by mounting two blades on the same arbor. The machine performs multiple cutting operations (access windows, tilted cuts, panelization) with one integrated device
Solution Approach 2:
The cutting action is extended from a single vertical plane to a three-dimensional geometry by tilting the blades. This creates angled cuts that form stable pyramidal geometries, adding a dimensional element to the cutting process
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
The method efficiently and cost-effectively panelizes and lifts concrete decks without temporary supports, reducing the risk of falling debris and damage to superstructures, enhancing safety and environmental conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a road-saw machine having a machine housing, a plurality of tilted blades, a guide wheel and a guide rail
Data Source
AI summary
A concrete deck demolition method for demolishing a concrete deck. The demolition method includes cutting two access windows into the concrete deck, installing a guide rail along a structural beam, making two tilted cuts on an upper surface of the structural beam, supporting the weight of the concrete deck utilizing an arching effect created by the geometry of the tilted cuts and lifting away a concrete deck cut portion for further demolition process.