Static structures (e.g. – buildings) – Machine or implement
Utility Patent
1999-11-04
2001-01-02
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Static structures (e.g., buildings)
Machine or implement
C405S216000
Utility Patent
active
06167672
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a reinforcing structure for reinforcing reinforced concrete piers in the civil engineering industry, the harbor industry and the building industry, and a method of reinforcing such reinforced concrete piers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a reinforcing structure for reinforcing reinforced concrete piers wrapped with high-performance, labor-saving steel plates which enhance the functions of earthquake-resisting hoops, and a method of reinforced concrete piers.
2. Description of the Related Art
Reinforced concrete piers which failed during the Kobe earthquake have taught that the hoop density, i.e., the number of hoops per unit length, of existing reinforced concrete piers is far less than that necessary to secure satisfactory earthquake resistance. Recently, a method of reinforcing existing reinforced concrete piers by wrapping the same with steel plates has been seen as prospective means for enhancing the earthquake resistance of existing reinforced concrete piers.
Referring to
FIG. 24
showing a supplemental reinforcing structure for reinforcing an existing reinforced concrete pier, using wrapping steel plates, a reinforced concrete pier
52
provided with a plurality of longitudinal main reinforcing bars
50
and lateral hoops
51
is wrapped with steel plates with a space between the surface of the reinforced concrete pier and the steel plates. The steel plates includes flat steel plates
53
for covering flat portions of the surface of the reinforced concrete pier
52
, and angular bent steel plates
54
having a cross section resembling the letter L, for covering the corner edge portions of the reinforced concrete pier
52
. The respective edges of the flat steel plates
53
and the adjacent angular steel plates
54
are welded together by seam welding. The space between the reinforced concrete pier
52
and the steel plates
53
and
54
of the supplemental reinforcing structure is filled up with a freely formable hardening material
55
, such as mortar. In
FIG. 24
, backing strips are indicated at
56
.
This conventional supplemental reinforcing structure using the steel plates as shown in
FIG. 24
, however, is subject to circumferential tension, needs field seam welding and has the following disadvantages.
The reliability of the quality of welded portions of the steel plates of the supplemental reinforcing structure formed by seam welding at site is uncertain, field welding needs temporary work and large-scale scaffolding, requires troublesome work and increases costs.
The tendency of weld quality to deteriorate becomes more conspicuous if a corrosion-resistant metal, such as a stainless steel, or a high-strength steel is used.
If surface-treated steel plates, such as plated steel plates or coated steel plates, are used, corrosion proofing measures including pretreatment for the surface-preparation of the surfacing material in portions of the steel plates to be welded, and field posttreatment for touch-up painting and the like are necessary, and troublesome field work is unavoidable.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a supplemental reinforcing structure of a reinforced concrete pier, capable of solving the foregoing problems in the conventional techniques, and a method of supplementally reinforcing a reinforced concrete pier.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a supplemental reinforcing structure of a reinforced concrete pier and a method of supplementally reinforcing a reinforced concrete pier, using, as reinforcing steel plates, steel elements having mechanical mating edge portions which can be joined together without requiring welding, capable of facilitating and simplifying field work for reinforcing a reinforced concrete pier with the supplemental reinforcing structure at site, of reducing time and labor. necessary for the field work and of improving the quality and reliability of field work, and a method of supplementally reinforcing a reinforced concrete pier, using the supplemental reinforcing structure.
With the foregoing object in view, the present invention provides a supplemental reinforcing structure for a reinforced concrete pier, comprising a closed steel plate structure of steel elements having mating edge portions and serving as steel plates, formed by joining together the adjacent mating edge portions so as to surround the reinforced concrete pier with a space formed between the reinforced concrete pier and the closed steel plate structure; and a freely formable hardening material filling up and hardened in the space between the reinforced concrete pier and the closed steel plate structure.
The use of the steel elements having the mechanical mating edge portions as the component steel plates of the supplemental reinforcing structure of a reinforced concrete pier facilitates and simplifies the field work, the mechanical mating edge portions not requiring field welding, save labor and time necessary for the field work, and improve the quality and reliability remarkably.
The steel elements having the mating edge portions may be made of a corrosion-resistant metal.
The steel elements having the mating edge portions may be made from surface-treated metal plates.
Since the steel elements can be connected by joining together the adjacent mating edge portions without requiring welding, the steel elements can be made of a corrosion-resistant metal or can be made from surface-treated metal plates.
A portion of the steel plate is a halved steel sheet pile having a mating edge portion only in one edge portion thereof, i.e., a steel element obtained by cutting a steel sheet pile in half along the longitudinal center line thereof, and the halved steel sheet pile serves as a joining steel plate.
The steel element having the mating edge portions may be formed from only a steel sheet pile.
If a portion of a steel sheet pile or an entire steel sheet pile is used as the steel element having the mating edge portions, the quantity of secondary work for processing steel plates is reduced for further rationalization.
The steel elements having the mating edge portions may be placed in a zigzag arrangement across an upper and a lower reinforcing structure.
The zigzag arrangement of the steel elements prevents the horizontal displacement of the upper and the lower supplemental reinforcing structure, and a circumferential tensile load is distributed evenly to the upper and the lower supplemental reinforcing structure, so that the supplemental reinforcing structures can further be strengthened.
The present invention also provides a method of supplementally reinforcing a reinforced concrete pier, comprising constructing a closed steel plate structure by connecting steel elements having mating edge portions by joining together the adjacent mating edge portions so as to surround the reinforced concrete pier with a space formed between the reinforced concrete pier and the closed steel plate structure; and filling up the space between the reinforced concrete pier and the closed steel plate structure with a freely formable hardening material and making the amorphous material harden in the space.
The present invention further provides a method of supplementally reinforcing a reinforced concrete pier, comprising constructing a closed steel plate structure by connecting steel elements having mating edge portions by joining together the adjacent mating edge portions so as to surround the reinforced concrete pier with a space formed between the reinforced concrete pier and the closed steel plate structure; pretensioning the joints formed by joining together the adjacent mating edge portions of the steel elements to eliminate joint clearances in the joints; and filling up the space between the reinforced concrete pier and the closed steel plate structure with a freely formable hardening material and making the amorphous material harden in the space.
A reliable supplemental reinforcing structure can
Kenyon & Kenyon
Lillis Eileen D.
Nippon Steel Corporation
Singh Sunil
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