GB2183269A

GB2183269A - Construction of tall tanks, silos, towers, chimneys etc.

Info

Publication number: GB2183269A
Application number: GB08626119A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Guy Pierrel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-10-31
Filing date: 1986-10-31
Publication date: 1987-06-03
Also published as: FR2589509B1; FR2589509A1; GB8626119D0; OA08547A

Abstract

A method of construction of tanks, silos, towers, chimneys and ducts etc of great height, in accordance with which after having created a foundation one puts in place a series of prefabricated elements 2a, 2b,.. which are assembled together by means upon which a new series of elements is superimposed. and so on up to the desired height, characterized in that it consists in providing at the base of the components grooves which enable a sealing matter to be poured under gravity and vibrated into the void defined between tile said base and the upper rim of the lower elements facing it, and then to complete the joint by projecting matter into the grooves and making it flush with the inner face where exposed. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of construction of structures such as tanks, silos, towers, chimneys and ducts of great height The present invention relates to a method of construction of structures such as tanks, silos, towers, chimneys and ducts of great height.

In the present state of the art the practice is known of constructing these structures by means of prefabricated elements which are assembled together laterally by various means but the height of which is limited to that of their actual components.

Through prefabrication of the elements these methods enable the time and the cost of the construction to be reduced appreciably, but as has been said above they were previously limited in height since they only dealt with the vertical assemblies of the components together.

A method exists, however, as in the Patent of Invention No. 71 41629 concerning the production by prefabrication of silos of a height which is a multiple of that of the prefabricated elements the jointing of which is effected by obvious posts poured on site and the horizontal reinforcement in the form of hoops are introduced before the pouring of the posts into horizontal channels situated halfway through the thickness of the elements and the protection of the steel is ensured by injection of fine-grain concrete into the aforesaid channels. This method is very complicated and the use of injection considerably burdens the cost of the construction.

Hence the aim of the invention is to provide a simple method of construction which enables the realization of structures of great height by solving in a rational manner the problem of the lower and upper joints between the components thanks to judicious arrangements which enable points of weakness not to be created in the structure but on the contrary in case of need to form a veritable strengthening.

-It Consists in putting in place on a previously created foundation a series of prefabricated elements which are assembled together by means upon which a new series of elements is superimposed and so on up to the desired height, and in providing at the base of the components grooves which enable a sealing matter to be poured under gravity into a void defined between the said base and the upper rim of the lower element facing it, and to complete the filling of the joint by projecting matter into the top portion of it and -making it flush with the inner face where exposed.

The reinforcement of the components projecting in one or two planes into the aforesaid void are sufficiently covered for insuring their sealing into the sealing matter, and into the aforesaid void are fixed horizontal refinorcements against the vertical reinforcements.

The upper and lower components may be assembled by prestressing by means of cables passing through sheaths previously arranged in the elements and placed under tension at their ends.

Each component includes on the lower rim of it a projecting side-portion followed by a bevel extending as far as the opposite edge of the rim upon which are arranged here and there blocks for stability and guidance along the inside, and on the upper rim a projecting edge at the side upon which the blocks for adjustment and stability come to rest, followed by a recessed portion and by a projecting portion of height less than the projection on the opposite side, upon which the projecting portion facing it comes to bear, defining the void which may be filled with a sealing matter through the grooves.

Each component includes on its vertical rims a projecting portion and a recessed plane portion as far as the edge in opposite ways between the two rims. At the time of the assembly of two adjacent components the projecting portions are kept in contact against the recessed plane portions facing them and a void is thus formed between the elements into which a sealing matter is poured and thoroughly vibrated.

The horizontal reinforcement of the components project in one or two planes into the aforesaid void and overlap sufficiently for ensuring sealing of them in the sealing matter and vertical reinforcement is fixed in the void between the horizontal reinforcements.

The components may equally well be assembled by prestressing by means of prestressing cables passing through sheaths previously incorporated into the elements and placed under tension at their ends.

The invention will now be explained in greater detail by means of practical embodiments in accordance with the invention, given non-restrictively and illustrated in the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial perspective in accordance with the invention, of a tank in the course of construction; Figure 2 is a vertical section through a joint in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is a vertical section through a joint in the case in which the wall is prestressed vertically; Figure 4 is a vertical section of a joint in a variant solution; Figure 5 is a horizontal section through a joint; Figure 6 is a partial perspective in accordance with the invention of a vaulted highway underpass in the course of construction; Figure 7 is a partial section along AA of a horizontal joint in accordance with the invention;; Figure 8 is a partial section along BB of a vertical joint in accordance with the invention; and Figure 9 is a partial section along AA of a horizontal joint in accordance with a variant upon the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a tank including a foundation 1 upon which are placed wall elements 2a, 2b, 2c... represented before the putting in place of the sealing matter, and the lower and upper horizontal joints between the elements may easily be seen and the opening 2 through which this matter is going to be poured.

Fig. 2 shows the detail of the production of the joint, the adjacent edges of the elements 2b and 2c comprising: for the upper element a projecting side portion (3) on the outside, and a bevelled portion (4) on the inside upon which are rranged here and there blocks (21) and for the lower element two projecting side portions of unequal length; (5) on the outside and (6) on the-inside of greater height, and a central recessed portion (7). The portions arranged facing on the inside and outside may be reversed.

When the projecting lateral portions (5) (3) facing one another on the outside are in contact as well as the blocks (21) and the projecting portion (6) facing them on the inside, a void (8) is formed.

The reinforcements (9) which may be equipped with hooks or not, project from the elements into the void (8) and against these reinforcements are put in place horizontal reinforcements (10) and then a sealing matter is poured and vibrated, for example, by means of a vibrating needle, into the void (8) through the groove (2), the top portion of the joint being completed by projection of matter which is made flush with the inside of the components where exposed.

The horizontal joint may forum from its composition a strengthening tie.

Fig. 3 indicates the prestressing solution of the system, in which cables (12) are threaded into pipes (13) previously incorporated into the components and placed under tension before the pouring of the sealing matter by pulling on the ends of the said cables.

Fig. 4 shows a variant upon the horizontal joint, the adjacent edges of the elements 2b and 2c including for the upper element a projecting lateral portion (15) and a bevelled recessed portion (16) exhibiting here and there on the inside blocks (21) and for the lower element a projecting lateral portion (18) on the inside and a recessed plane portion (17) extending as far as the inner edge of the rim, so that when the upper components are placed upon these lower ones, (15) upon (17) and (21) upon (18), a sealing matter may be poured through the opening (2) provided for this purpose, into the void (20) formed by the recessed portions, where it solidifies.

Fig. 5 shows the details of the production of a vertical joint between elements.

Each components exhibits on its vertical rims a projecting lateral portion (22) sometimes on the inside and sometimes on the outside, and a recessed plane portion (26).

When the projecting portion (22) of one element is in contact with the plane portion (26) of an adjacent element a void (23) is formed.

Reinforcements (24) which may be equipped with hooks or not, project from the elements into the void (23) and vertical reinforcements may be placed in the void (23) for distribution and then the sealing matter is poured. From its constitution the vertical joint may be considered to be a strengthening post.

Fig. 6 shows a vaulted highway underpass including a general floor foundation resting upon smooth concrete (1), upon which are placed elements 2B, 2C, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 21,... represented before the putting to use of the sealing matter and the lower and upper horizontal joints in the floor, the sidewalls and the body of the vault may easily be seen, and the opening (2) through which this matter may be poured and vibrated.

Fig. 7 shows the detail of the production of the horizontal joint, the adjacent edges of the elements 2B and 2C comprising for the lower element a projecting lateral portion (18) on the inside and a plane recessed portion (17) on the outside, and for the upper element a projecting lateral portion (15) on the outside and a bevelled portion (16) on the inside, upon which are found blocks (21).

When the projecting portion of the upper element (15) is in contact with the plane portion of the lower element (17) a void (20) is formed; reinforcements (9) which may be equipped with hooks or not, project from the elements into the void (20) and horizontal distributor reinforcements (10) are put in place against the vertical reinforcements projecting into the aforesaid void, and the sealing matter is poured and thoroughly vibrated into the aforesaid void through the aperture (2), the top portion of the joint being completed by projection of the matter and made flush with the component where exposed.

From its composition the horizontal joint may form an intermediate tie.

Fig. 8 shows the detail of production of a vertical joint between two adjacent elements.

Each component exhibits along its vertical rims a projecting lateral portion (22) sometimes on the inside and sometimes on the outside, and a recessed plane portion (26).

Reinforcements (25) which may be equipped with hooks or not form projections from the elements into the void (23) and vertical distributor reinforcements (24) may be fixed against the horizontal reinforcements (25) and the sealing matter is poured. From its constitution the vertical joint may be considered to be a strengthening post.

Fig. 9 shows yet another embodiment in which the elements 2A, 2B, 2C, 2D,... are traversed by horizontal and vertical pipes (13) and (28) opening into the voids (20) and (23) in the horizontal and vertical joints between the elements, prestressing cables (27) and (12) being threaded into the sheaths (13) and (28) to pass through the aforesaid voids and enable prestressing of the structure, and especially of the joints. The use of prestressing cables may be additional to that of the reinforcements.

The present invention may be applied particularly to the construction of structures such as tahnks, silos, towers, chimneys and ducts of great height, which may be of reinforced concrete or not, prestressed or not, but it is applicable to the construction of these structures in which other materials are employed (steel, cast iron, aluminium, plastics matter, reinforced or not) and likewise other matter than concrete as the sealing matter. Similarly the term "reinforcement" may be understood as indicated any strengthening in rod form whatever the substance of which it is made.

Claims

1. A method of construction of structures such as tanks, silos, towers, chimneys and ducts of great height, in accordance with which after having created a foundation one puts in place a series of prefabricated elements 2a, 2b,. . which are assembled together by means upon which a new series of elements is superimposed, and so on up to the desired height, characterized in that it consists in providing at the base of the components grooves which enable a sealing matter to be poured under gravity and vibrated into the void defined between the said base and the upper rim of the lower elements facing it, and then to complete the joint by projecting matter into the grooves and making it flush with the inner face where exposed.

2. A method of construction as aforesaid, as i Claim 1, characterized in that on the vertical rims of the components a projecting portion (22) and a recessed plane portion (26) extending as far as the opposite edge are provided so that when two elements are laterally in contact a sealing matter is poured and vibrated into the void (23) defined between the projecting portions and the plane portions and there solidifies.

3. A method of construction as in Claims 1 or 2, in which elements provided with reinforcement are employed, characterized in that the reinforcement projecting in one or two planes from the recessed portions are arranged to overlap in the void (8) (20) (23) in order to ensure sealing of them.

4. A method of construction as in Claim 3, characterized in that strengthening reinforcement is fixed in the void (8) (20) (23) against the vertical and/or horizontal reinforcement.

5. A method of construction as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper and. lower elements and/or the adjacent elements are assembled by means of prestressing cables (12) (27) passing through sheaths (13) (28) previously arranged in the components and placed unde tension at their ends.

6. Components for putting into effect the method as in any one of the Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the gropves and voids defined at the horizontal joints between components consist on the lower rim of each component, of a projecting side-portion (3) followed by a bevel extending as far as the opposite edge of the rim upon which are arranged here and there blocks (21) for guidance and stability, and on the upper rim of each component, of a projecting edge (6) (18) at the side, upon which the blocks (21) come to rest, followed by a recessed portion and a projecting portion (5) of height less than the projection (6), upon which the projecting portion (3) facing it comes to bear, thus defining a void (8) (20) which may be filled through the openings (2) defined between the blocks (21).

7. Components as in Claim 5, characterized in that the recessed portion following the projection (6) consists of a bevel followed by a projecting portion (5) of height less than the said projection (6).

8. Components as in Claim 6, characterized in that the recessed portion following the projection (6) consists of a plane portion extending horizontally as far as the edge opposite the projection (18) from the upper rim.

9. Components as in Claim 6, characterized in that the blocks (21) and the projection (6) (18) are arranged on the inside.

10. A method of building structures such as tanks, silos, towers, chimneys and ducts of significant height substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

11. A prefabricated building elements substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings