Precast Tower Foundation with Metal Pressure Plates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Precast concrete tower foundations face issues with guide rods vibrating or moving due to environmental forces, leading to chipping or wear, and bolts loosening against the concrete surface, causing instability and delays in construction.
Innovation Solution
A tower foundation slab design featuring precast concrete slabs with metal pressure plates and compression washer assemblies, where guide rods pass through both the slabs and pressure plates, distributing the tower's weight and eliminating direct contact between bolts and concrete, thus enhancing stability and rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If precast concrete slabs with guide rods are used, then construction speed is improved, but guide rods vibrate and wear against the concrete surface
Solution Approach 1:
A metal plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the guide rod and the concrete slab. The metal plate serves as a mediator that prevents direct contact and wear between the guide rod and concrete surface, while still allowing the guide rod to be secured to the slab effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The foundation system combines different materials (concrete slab, metal plate, guide rod) to create a composite structure that leverages the advantages of each material. The metal plate provides wear resistance and structural integrity, while the concrete slab provides foundational support, creating a more reliable system than concrete alone
2Ease of operation
If bolts are threaded onto guide rods against the concrete slab, then assembly is simplified, but bolts loosen due to wear on concrete surface
Solution Approach 1:
The metal plate acts as an intermediary surface for the bolt connection. Instead of threading bolts directly against the concrete slab, the bolts are threaded against the metal plate, which provides a stable, wear-resistant surface that prevents bolt loosening while maintaining assembly simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The metal plate can be considered a sacrificial or replaceable component that protects the permanent concrete structure and guide rod assembly. If wear occurs, the metal plate can be replaced without affecting the permanent concrete foundation or guide rod structure
3Strength
If mixed concrete is transported to each site and cured in place, then foundation strength is achieved, but construction time is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The concrete slabs are manufactured and cured in advance (precast) before being transported to the construction site. This preliminary action allows the concrete to achieve full strength in a controlled manufacturing environment, eliminating the need for on-site curing time and accelerating the overall construction schedule
Solution Approach 2:
The foundation is divided into discrete precast concrete slab segments that can be manufactured independently and then assembled on-site. This segmentation allows for parallel production and assembly operations, reducing the sequential time required compared to monolithic poured concrete foundations
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 design improves the stability and rigidity of the tower foundation, preventing bolt loosening and concrete wear, allowing for faster and more reliable construction and long-term stability.
Implementation Method 1
metal pressure plates partially embedded within the body portion such that the pressure plates have top surfaces which are exposed upon the body portion top surface. Each pressure plate has a guide rod mounting hole therethrough which is coaxially aligned with one body portion guide rod mounting hole
Implementation Method 2
eliminating direct contact between bolts and concrete
Data Source
AI summary
A tower foundation (10) has a base slab (11), pillar slabs (12), and a crown stab (13), all of which are made of precast concrete structures. The slabs are all retained in position by steel guide rods (15) that extend upwardly from the base slab. The guide rods have externally threaded ends (16) configured to receive internally threaded mounting nuts (17). The crown slab has guide rod mounting holes (22) through which the guide rods extend. The crown slab also has compression washer assemblies (25) which include a pressure plate (26) and anchor legs (27). The pressure washer has a central mounting hole (28) coaxially aligned with the crown slab guide rod mounting holes. The pressure washer has a top surface (29) which is flush with the crown slab top surface (30). The mounting nuts bear against the pressure washer and not against the concrete.