Ultra-High-Performance Concrete Molding with Reduced Wall Thickness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ultra-high-strength concrete moldings, such as slotted or drainage channels, face challenges with brittleness and require increased wall thickness for fracture stability, leading to higher costs and handling issues during construction.

Innovation Solution

A novel binder mixture of different types of cement with added limestone powder, along with specific ratios and particle sizes, creates a ductile and elastic cement paste, allowing for reduced wall thickness while maintaining stability without reinforcement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wall thickness of concrete moldings is increased to improve fracture stability, then the reliability is improved, but the weight and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefracture stabilityVSAvoidweight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the concrete composition parameters - using a specific cement mixture ratio (42.5 and 52.5 strength classes in 4:3 ratio), adding limestone powder with specific grain size distribution (0.5-2.0mm), and controlling water-cement ratio. These parameter changes result in ultra-high-strength concrete that achieves superior fracture stability with reduced wall thickness, directly resolving the contradiction between reliability and weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials by creating a multi-component concrete system combining different cement types (42.5 and 52.5 strength classes), limestone powder, and carefully selected aggregates. This composite approach produces a material with optimized mechanical properties that provides enhanced fracture stability without requiring increased wall thickness, thus reducing weight while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the wall thickness of concrete moldings is increased to improve fracture stability, then the reliability is improved, but the cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefracture stabilityVSAvoidcost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies concrete composition parameters including cement strength class distribution (4:3 ratio of 42.5 to 52.5), limestone powder addition (specific grain sizes 0.5-2.0mm), and water-cement ratio control. These parameter changes produce ultra-high-strength concrete that achieves required fracture stability with thinner walls, reducing material consumption and manufacturing cost while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes cost-effective materials with specific properties - limestone powder as a supplementary cementitious material, and a balanced mixture of two cement strength classes. This approach creates an economically optimized concrete formulation that delivers superior performance at reduced cost, eliminating the need for expensive thick-wall designs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Weight of moving object

If ultra-high-strength concrete is used to reduce wall thickness, then the weight is reduced, but the brittleness increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidbrittleness
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a composite concrete system combining multiple cement types (42.5 and 52.5 strength classes in 4:3 ratio), limestone powder, and carefully selected aggregates. This composite structure provides both high strength and improved ductility, reducing brittleness while enabling weight reduction through thinner walls. The interaction between different materials creates a more resilient microstructure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes composition parameters including the ratio of different cement strength classes (4:3), limestone powder grain size distribution (0.5-2.0mm), and water-cement ratio. These parameter optimizations achieve a balance between strength, ductility, and weight, producing concrete that is both lighter and less brittle than conventional formulations

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

The solution results in a lightweight, cost-effective, and flexible concrete molding with improved elasticity and stress resistance, enabling efficient handling and transportation while meeting structural requirements.

Implementation Method 1

a binder is required, which creates the chemical, internal bond of a cement stone

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical bonding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the binder comprises a mixture of at least two types of cement with different final strengths

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydration: Mineral Hydration

Data Source

PatentEP2695992B1Moulded concrete part and method for the production of a moulded concrete part
Publication Date: 2016.12.07 HANS RINNINGER U SOHN
  • EP2695992B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2695992B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2695992B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention comprises a concrete molded part, wherein the concrete molded part has a longitudinal body shape and is defined by a longitudinal extent and a structural cross-section with variable wall thickness, wherein the ratio of the longitudinal extent to a minimum wall thickness in the structural cross-section is greater than or equal to 400 to 7. The invention also relates to a method for producing a concrete molded part, in particular from ultra-high-performance concrete, wherein the concrete, after its mixing following the hydration of the aluminate phase, is placed in the formwork shortly before the end of the dormant phase, in which the hydration of the silicate phase takes place.The invention further relates to a concrete, in particular an ultra-high-strength concrete, wherein the concrete in its formulation comprises a binder, fillers, concrete additives and water, wherein the binder comprises a mixture of at least two cements of different final strength such as two Portland cements (CEM I) and/or a mixture of Portland cement (CEM I) and blast furnace cement (CEM III).