Module combined girder and deck construction

Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Cast in situ concrete barrier with laterally projecting... – Shear-resisting means between sustainer and barrier

Patent

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Details

52327, 52602, 527307, 52250, 522238, 5274519, 14 73, E01D 1900

Patent

active

056343086

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention pertains to a building or construction element which in a preferred form is a combined girder and deck which can be used in the repair, rehabilitation or construction of roads and bridges and as building element in other, structural applications. More particularly, the combined girder and deck comprise a module which is fabricated, in part, from cast concrete.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is well appreciated that one of the major problems facing road authorities and local councils is the maintenance and replacement of a large population of aging timber bridges. One of the reasons for such a large number of timber structures lies in the fact that Australia, for example, was blessed with vast supplies of durable and strong hardwood timber. However, a point has been reached in Australia and elsewhere, where large sawn timber is not available in sufficient quanties to continue to economically maintain these structures in the traditional manner. It is well known that the supply of large diameter logs is quickly diminishing as old growth forests disappear. Consequently the cost of timber has risen sharply. Over the past ten years, the cost of good quality large sawn hardwood timber has risen by about a factor of four.
From an environmental point of view, alternative methods and materials are needed to replace aging timbers or reduce the need for such timbers.
Because timber is dimensionally unstable (that is as the moisture content varies it swells or shrinks by as much as ten percent perpendicular to the grain) and is also biologically unstable if exposed to the elements, it has to date been considered as a temporary material in outdoor construction. Thus timber structures have been repaired in the traditional manner which involves replacing members as they degrade.
Also, because natural round timber is irregular in its natural form, it is sawn to produce a more uniform product. Up to sixty percent of the timber is lost at the mill and a material of inferior strength is produced because some load carrying fibres are severed and knots are exposed.
The invention, in one application, replaces large sawn timber with reinforced concrete and combines this in the preferred embodiment with natural round timber which is in reasonable supply and can be obtained from plantations and regrowth forests.


OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a modular load carrying member which combines a girder and a deck into a single structure.
The invention aims to produce a substantially dimensionally stable and accurate load carrying member or building element which is capable of accommodating a dimensionally unstable girder as the main load carrying member, but is equally suited to accommodating a dimensionally stable girder.
The present invention consists in a structural module comprising: load bearing diaphragm at opposite ends; deck whereby forces induced in the girder are transferred to the diaphragms via shear transfer between the girder and the deck.
In a preferred embodiment, the module combines a cast concrete deck and end diaphragms with a round timber.
Preferably the module, when in use, is adapted to protect the girder from the elements, in particular water, which could degrade the girder where it is of timber.
In a preferred embodiment the module is formed by a cast reinforced concrete deck and end diaphragms with a round timber cast in an inverted position on a flat bed.
This upside down method of casting provides for denser and consequently more durable concrete at the wearing surface and allows a tread or non skid pattern to be cast into the surface.
The module in its simplest form can provide a complete bridge or building element.
The modules may be coupled together to form large elements while being fully demountable if required (e.g. if bolted or stressed together) and may be reused.
The modules may be made contiguous by gluing or casting insitu with concrete between modules or by some other means.


BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN

REFERENCES:
patent: 890769 (1908-06-01), Hewett
patent: 1385421 (1921-07-01), Beach
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patent: 3624980 (1971-12-01), McManus
patent: 3728835 (1973-04-01), McManus
patent: 4555888 (1985-12-01), Goldenberg et al.
patent: 4604841 (1986-08-01), Barnoff et al.
patent: 4700516 (1987-10-01), Grossman
patent: 4972537 (1990-11-01), Slaw, Sr.
patent: 5125200 (1992-06-01), Natterer
patent: 5305563 (1994-04-01), Erel
patent: 5339475 (1994-08-01), Jaeger et al.
patent: 5433049 (1995-07-01), Karlsson et al.

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