TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to the fields of structural engineering and materials engineering
and can be used for the production and characterisation of multicomponent structural
composites. More specifically, it discloses anchoring means for tie components.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] This invention covers different types and techniques of combining of composite elements.
There are the manufacturing and testing applications for cement- and polymer-based
elements comprising tie components (bars, strips, profiles, laminates, etc.) as an
integral part of the structure. Another kind of application is related to reinforcement
and testing techniques using pre-stressed Fibre-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) plates, sheets,
and laminates. The latter technology is useful for strengthening the existing structures
to secure the structural integrity and provide additional support to them. This invention
also enables complex combinations of various reinforcing or strengthening systems.
[0003] The group of reinforcing bars and reinforcement equipment are described in
Fields & Bischoff (2004), Tension Stiffening and Cracking of High-Strength Reinforced
Concrete Tension Members, ACI Structural Journal. This anchorage has two anchoring units (massive anchored concrete blocks) at the
ends of the tensile element, in which the longitudinal groups of reinforcement bars
of the test element are anchored, and the anchor rods. The anchor rods are pierced
through each formed support block, where one end of the anchor rod is secured with
plates resting on the inner plane of the concrete block and the other ends of the
rods are fixed to a tensioning machine. Attaching the anchor rods to the test bench
requires additional traverses that connect all anchor rods. The reinforced element
can thus be connected to standard test equipment. The fastening equipment described
does not guarantee the positioning of the reinforcement bars in the cross-section
of the element. It is also impossible to position the reinforcement bars at a short
distance from each other. Massive anchored concrete blocks at the ends of the element
significantly increase the weight of the specimens. With this geometry of the specimen,
it is difficult to interpret the cracking parameters of the element, as it is necessary
to know the distance from the anchor block to the formation of a crack.
[0004] Khorami et al. (2020) proposed an alternative setup enabling characterisation of
structural elements reinforced with multiple bars. This apparatus, however, was developed
for the application of steel reinforcement only.
[0005] Reinforcing systems and techniques using Carbon Fibre-Reinforced Polymers (CFRP)
are recently disclosed in some research papers, for example, Mohee et al. (2017),
You et al. (2012), Correia et al. (2015), Hosseini et al. (2017), Michels et al. (2014),
Hosseini et al. (2018). CFRP materials are employed in many applications due to their
beneficial features such as strength, flexibility, etc. The techniques of CFRP stretching,
employing pre-stretched CFRP ties, sheets and testing CFRP reinforcements typically
comprise anchors with metal plates grasping and clamping a CFRP sheet. Further, this
CFRP element with the anchoring equipment is employed in different applications such
as reinforcing of old structures having cracks (Hosseini et al (2017), Hosseini et
al (2018)), reinforcing concrete constructions and elements with pre-stretched CFRP
bands providing stretch gradient to the element being reinforced (Michels et al (2014)),
or testing properties of CFRP band stretching and reinforcing. However, in the listed
prior art sources CFRP stretching is employed only on single CFRP bands or in Hosseini
et al (2018) there is a stretched two CFRP bands in parallel, the anchors grasping
two tapes simultaneously.
[0006] The patent application
WO2018072589A1 discloses an automated and synchronized control system for bundled steel strand anchoring.
The system is provided with a pre-tensioning device, an integrated tensioning device,
a hydraulic pump station, and the main control center. Each part is organically connected
via high-pressure hydraulic tubing, a data transmission cable, and a control component.
The main control center issues a command and the hydraulic pump station then actuates
the pre-tensioning device and integrated tensioning device to perform a tensioning
operation under a pre-configured program. An integrated multi-piston, single-shaft
pre-tensioning jack comprises a hydraulic cylinder and a piston. The hydraulic cylinder
is provided with multiple piston openings. Each of the pistons is installed within
a piston opening to form an integrated multi-piston structure. By using the pre-tensioning
jack with a structure comprising a single hydraulic cylinder and multiple pistons
a high degree of integration is achieved. The invention can realize simultaneous and
automated pre-tensioning of multiple steel strands, automated inverse tensioning of
an ultra-long steel strand with a jack, continuous pre-tensioning, faster operations,
and lower labor costs. A single pumping station can achieve pre-tensioning and integrated
tensioning. A single main control center can simultaneously control multiple pumping
stations, realizing simultaneous pre-tensioning and integrated tensioning of multiple
pre-stressed strands. This system allows to anchor strands of bundled steel in a synchronous
way. The strands are attached individually and so on.
[0007] The
Chinese utility model CN205630974U relates to pre-tensioning system precast beam pedestal, including rectangular shaped
plate bottom plate and transmission column, transmission column-parallel arrangement
is in the bottom plate both sides, and stiff end gooseneck and stretch-draw end gooseneck
has been arranged respectively to the transmission column both ends, be connected
with the tensioning equipment on the stretch-draw end gooseneck, arranged steel strand
wires between stiff end gooseneck and the stretch-draw end gooseneck, when the tensioning
equipment carries outstretch-draw to steel strand wires, steel strand wires and stretch-draw
end gooseneck relative movement for the stiff end gooseneck is drawn to paste tightly
in the transmission column tip, and simultaneous tension end gooseneck is overlaid
tightly in transmission column's the other end. This pre-tensioning system precast
beam pedestal has overcome the structure complicacy of traditional pedestal existence,
extravagant material, and extravagant manual work and has made shortcoming long in
time limit through the structural style of change pedestal, makes its simple structure,
has practiced thrift the cost by a wide margin, has promoted the construction progress.
[0008] The most relevant patent application
LT6275B discloses fastening equipment that can be used for producing and testing reinforced
concrete elements. This equipment carries two symmetrical anchorage joints (3) of
reinforcement bars (2) of a structural element (1). The anchorage joint embraces two
plates (6) connected by central (7) and supplemental bars (8). Plates are used as
permanent formwork for the casting of anchoring joints (3). The plates (6) have identically
distributed holes for reinforcement bars (2) poured by concrete (9). The central bar
(7) is connected to a tension device (4). A gap between the structural element (1)
and anchorage joint (3) can be formed to measure the deformations of reinforcement
bars (2). Element (1) and anchors (3) can be produced simultaneously and have the
same or different filling (9). Supplemental equipment (10) can be used for shear restrain
of anchorage joints (3).
However, this invention discloses reinforcement of composite elements still by internal
bars or ties that are limited to a range of applications and constructions.
[0009] In the present field of structural engineering and materials engineering, there is
a need to manufacture pre-stressed composite systems with structural components produced
from FRP materials having more complex geometry and shape of the cross-section than
discussed above. The above prior art methods place a high demand on complicated production
and testing equipment and require specific knowledge to operate it. Current techniques
allow anchoring and aggregation of internal or external tie components, or each structural
part separately in a bundle of ties. Thus, the present invention discloses an effective
solution for a specific class of more complex constructions and applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Special equipment and a new technique to distribute tie components in the cross-section
of a structural element are the objects of the present invention. The proposed apparatus
is useful for producing and testing of the composite members. Bars, sheets, laminates,
strips, fibre strands, and profiles in various combinations can be used as structural
components of structural elements made from cement-based or polymer-based composite
materials. The equipment is also suitable for strengthening existing structures (including
the application of near-surface mounted reinforcing systems). It can maintain the
predefined position of the components, ensuring axial tension to the ties.
[0011] A unique anchor assembly designed to fasten a complex set of the components is the
specific feature of the invention. The anchoring joints ensure the design position
of the tie assembly. The anchorage system enables to combine different materials varying
the arrangement/distribution of the composite components within the cross-section.
The filling of the anchorage blocks allows each part to deform differently in the
anchoring zone, thereby equalising stresses of different composite components and,
consequently, to reduce an eccentricity of the tie group. The choice of filler composition
ensures the adaptive deformation of the anchor assembly as it allows control of the
anchor strength and displacement of the components. That reduces the physical eccentricity
of the composite structural member and allows the cast materials for producing the
structural member to be varied.
[0012] The equipment consists of two anchorage joints, each one comprising two spaced-apart
plates and the central bar connected to the tensioning device. The two plates of each
anchoring joint are perforated to ensure the design position of the tie components
of the structural elements. The ties pass through the holes in the plates to fix them
in the anchoring joints. The space between the plates of the anchor unit is filled
with adhesive or other appropriate material. The anchorage blocks can be produced
together with the element or separately to form a 3D cage enabling the application
of pre-stressing technology. External tie components are either adhesively bonded
to the newly formed lateral surfaces of the anchoring joints or fastened to the lateral
surfaces by tailoring the external clamps shaped tightly around the filled anchoring
joint.
[0013] The shape of anchoring joint plates and external clamps can be tailored to fit the
geometry shape of the external components (e.g., sheets, laminates, strips) having
different cross-section, for example, zig-zag shaped profiles.
[0014] According to the producing and testing layout, employing the above means of reinforcing
and anchoring the structural cast member, further, the tensile load is transmitted
from a standard tensioning machine to the reinforcing assembly of the structural member.
[0015] According to the technique, the cast structural element and its anchoring joints
can be made at the same production stage with the same composite filler (e.g., polymer-
or cement-based composite), or the anchoring joints with the tie assembly can be made
before the cast element is produced. Such flexibility of production steps allows preparing
a specimen (structure member/construction element) by a single or few different stages
and manufacturing pre-stressed construction elements. The latter procedure is also
applicable for the strengthening of existing structures.
[0016] There are gaps between the edges of the cast structure member and the anchorage joints.
These gaps allow the measuring of displacements and control of deformations of tensioned
internal and external tie components.
[0017] Practical applications are focused on structural engineering and materials engineering
as well as characterisation (testing) of the composite systems containing longitudinal
tie components. The next chapter provides several embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0018] To understand a fixture for a group of reinforcing bars and reinforcing sheets for
a structural member, and appreciate its applications, the following pictures are provided
and referenced hereafter. Figures are given as examples only and in no way should
limit the scope of the invention. The invention is explained in the drawings, wherein:
- FIG. 1
- depicts a schematic diagram of a fixture for a group of reinforcing ties for a structural
cast member (Note: reinforcing strips or profiles with a more complex geometry of
the cross-section can be positioned in the composite element in the same manner);
- FIG. 2 a-c
- depicts the construction of the anchorage block and fixture of an external reinforcing
laminate plate by using the external clamping equipment: (a) the assembled anchorage
block with fixing plates and connecting bolts; (b) anchorage block filled with the
filling material between the fixing plates; (c) anchorage block clamped by an external
clamp and fixing the external reinforcing lamination sheet to the anchorage block;
- FIG. 3
- shows an application example of equipment for the characterisation of tensile reinforced
concrete elements. Three different composite tie groups are used: internal fiberglass-reinforced
polymer rods, external carbon fibre reinforced polymer laminates, and carbon fibre
reinforced polymer strips mounted near the surface of the element;
- FIG. 4
- shows an application of equipment for manufacturing pre-stressed reinforced concrete
beams. The equipment is used for pre-stressing glass fibre reinforced polymer rods;
- FIG. 5
- shows an application of equipment for the strengthening of flexural members. The equipment
is used to pre-stress carbon fibres laminate attached to the outside of the beam.
DRAWINGS - Reference numerals
[0019]
- 1 a structural element (or member) reinforced by internal and external ties anchored
at both ends of the structural element;
- 2 Internal tie components, e.g. steel bars, basalt, aramid, glass or carbon fibre reinforced
polymer strips, bars or profiles;
- 3 Anchorage block (or joint, or unit);
- 4 Standard connections (or terminals) of a standard tensioning machine;
- 5 Spherical hinges attached to the connections of the tensioning machine;
- 6 Fixing plate of the anchorage block;
- 7 The central bar of the anchorage block, connected to the tensioning machine through
the spherical hinges;
- 8 Connecting bolts of the anchorage block;
- 9 Filing material (or filler) of the anchorage block (concrete, polymer, or other);
- 10 The external clamp of the anchorage block;
- 11 External reinforcing laminate plate, for example, made of CFRP and used for external
reinforcement;
- 12 Fibre reinforced polymer bars (internal reinforcement);
- 13 Fibre reinforced polymer strips (near-surface mounted reinforcement);
- 14 Fibre reinforced polymer laminate (external reinforcement);
- 15 The gap between the anchorage block and the structural element being tensioned;
- 16 Displacement/deformation measurement equipment arranged in the gap between the anchorage
block and the structural element.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] This chapter describes the anchoring equipment, producing method and characterisation
technique in different applications.
[0021] Anchorage equipment. The internal ties 2 of the structural element 1 are fixed into the anchorage blocks
3 that further are connected to the standard tensioning machine joints 4 using spherical
hinges 5. The anchorage block 3 consists of two perforated fixing plates 6 having
identical holes where the tie components 2 are inserted, the centre rods 7 connected
to the standard tensioning equipment joints 4, and additional bolts 8 connecting two
fixing plates 6 (FIG. 2 a). The spaces between the fixing plates 6 are filled with
an adhesive material 9 (FIG. 2 b). Cement- and polymer-based concrete can be used
for that purpose. The anchorage joint 3 assemblies may have additional clamping equipment
10 to increase the anchoring confinement (FIG. 2 c). When connecting the centre rods
7 to the tensioning machine (e. g. UMM-200), additional spherical hinges 5 can be
used to provide central tensioning. There is a gap 15 between the anchorage joint
assembly 3 and the structural member 1 to allow displacement/deformation sensors 16
to be mounted to the ties 2 and/or external plates 11.
[0022] The proposed anchorage equipment (comprising two anchorage joints 3) allows manufacturing/preparing
the structural element 1 in different ways:
- In the first case, the entire composite system comprising the two anchorage joints
3 and the structural element 1 is manufactured simultaneously using the same filler
9.
- In the second case, the anchorage blocks 3 and the structural element 1 can be manufactured
by more than one stage: fixing plates 6 assembled with connecting bolts 8 and reinforcing
bars 2 are pierced through the design holes of the fixing plates 6. Further, the space
between the fixing plates 6 is filled with the filling material 9 before the production
of the structural element 1. After the filling material 9 hardened and anchorage blocks
3 formed, in the next step the reinforcement bars 2 can be tensioned thus forming
the pre-stressed structural element 1 or the pre-stressed design of reinforcement
element 2 and 11 groups.
- Alternatively, the anchorage blocks 3 can be tailored to fit the shape of an existing
structure (not shown). After the filling material 9 is hardened, the external tie
components 11 and near-surface mounted strips 13 are fixed using an adhesive and the
gripping system 10. A tensile machine enables to pre-stress these ties. The application
of such setup allows for strengthening the existing structure.
[0023] In any way, the structural element 1 with the prepared anchorage blocks 3 is attached
via the central rods 7 from the fixing plates 6 to the tensioning machine connections
4. The tensioning machine can be employed without integrated hinges (not shown), or
with spherical hinges 5, or with pin hinges (not shown), thus additionally fixing
the structural element 1. The tensile load is transmitted through the anchorage block
3 to the tie components 2 of the member 1. A gap 15 is provided between the anchorage
joints 3 and the structural element 1, thus allowing the measuring sensors 16 to be
directly attached to the ties 2 for monitoring the deformations.
[0024] The deformation sensors 16 measure the deformations of the internal and external
tie components 2 and 11, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] The invented anchorage system is compatible with reinforcing ties of various materials
and geometries and can be used for the production of pre-stressed structural composite
members and characterisation (testing) of the tensile elements having longitudinal
tie components.
[0026] Anchoring method. The anchoring method for pre-stressing and testing of a group of different reinforcing
elements comprises steps at least of:
- 1) Preparing the fixing plates 6 of the anchoring blocks 3 with the desired configuration
for a design of groups of internal tie components 2. The fixing plates 6 have holes
corresponding to the ties 2 and the near-surface mounted strips 13 inserted through
the plate 6 that secures the design position of the tie components.
- 2) Assembling the anchorage blocks 3 each one of two plates 6 and connecting with
sets of bolts 8, mounting central tensile bars 7, inserting into the plate 6 holes
the internal ties such as internal bars 2 and/or internal near-surface strips 13 that
are required by the design.
- 3) Filling the two anchorage blocks 3 with the filling material 9 that can be a type
of concrete, polymer or other applicable cast material. Further, the filling material
9 is allowed to harden.
- 4) Preparing side surfaces of the anchoring blocks 3 for attaching and clamping the
external tie components, for example, laminate plates 11 made of a carbon fiber-reinforced
polymer (CFRP).
- 5) Attaching the external reinforcement elements 11 to the prepared lateral surfaces
of the anchorage blocks 3, for example, bonding with adhesives, grasping with special
friction plates and clamping tightly with the external clamp 10 to the block 3.
- 6) Providing tension force from the tensile machine to the anchorage joint 3, to the
anchored groups of internal ties 2 and external ties 11 and to the structural element
1, correspondingly.
- 7) The deformations of the reinforcement is measured in the pre-defined gaps between
the anchorage blocks 3 and the structural element 1 being tensioned between the two
anchorage brocks 3.
[0027] The same method and anchorage steps are applicable for various combinations of composite
tie components. A single reinforcing type can also be used. For example, the set of
internal bars 2 can be used as a single reinforcing group. In this case, all anchorage
steps are remaining the same, i.e. the clamping 10 is also recommended for ensuring
the additional confinement of the anchorage blocks 3. Alternatively, the external
plates 11 (with or without the pre-stressing) can be used for the strengthening of
existing structures.
[0028] Embodiments of the anchoring apparatus. The preferred embodiment of the present invention is presented in FIG. 3. It depicts
the general application of the anchoring system for characterisation of tensile composite
elements 1. There are three tie components used for the composition of the structural
member 1: the inner steel or various fibre-reinforced polymer rods 12, the external
fibre reinforced polymer laminate plates 14 and the near-surface fibre reinforced
polymer strips 13.
[0029] FIG. 4 demonstrates an alternative embodiment of the invention equipment. The anchorage
blocks (3) are used to pre-stress fibre reinforced polymer rods 12 for producing pre-stressed
composite beams.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows the application of the proposed equipment for reinforcing flexural composite
members. The apparatus is used to tension ties attached to the tensile surface of
the beam. For this application the size of the anchorage blocks (3) depends on the
flexural stiffness of the ties (14). For low flexural stiffness ties (14) size of
the perforated plates (6) can be diminished and the number of the connecting bolts
(8) can be reduced. This application is typical for the strengthening of the existing
structures.
CITATION LIST
[0031]
Correia, L., Teixeira, T., Michels, J., Almeida, J. A., & Sena-Cruz, J. (2015). Flexural
behaviour of RC slabs strengthened with prestressed CFRP strips using different anchorage
systems. Composites Part B: Engineering, 81, 158-170. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.07.011
Fields, K., & Bischoff, P. H. (2004). Tension stiffening and cracking of high-strength
reinforced concrete tension members. Structural Journal, 101(4), 447-456. Hosseini, A., Ghafoori, E., Motavalli, M., Nussbaumer, A., & Zhao, X. L. (2017). Mode
I fatigue crack arrest in tensile steel members using prestressed CFRP plates. Composite
Structures, 178, 119-134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comp-struct.2017.06.056
Hosseini, A., Ghafoori, E., Motavalli, M., Nussbaumer, A., Zhao, X. L., & Koller,
R. (2018). Prestressed unbonded reinforcement system with multiple CFRP plates for
fatigue strengthening of steel members. Polymers, 10(3), 264. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym10030264
Khorami, M., Navarro-Gregori, J., & Serna, P. (2020). Experimental methodology on
the serviceability behaviour of reinforced ultra-high performance fibre reinforced
concrete tensile elements. Strain, e12361. https://doi.org/10.1111/str.12361
Michels, J., Martinelli, E., Czaderski, C., & Motavalli, M. (2014). Prestressed CFRP
strips with gradient anchorage for structural concrete retrofitting: Experiments and
numerical modeling. Polymers, 6(1), 114-131. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym6010114
Mohee, F. M., Al-Mayah, A., & Plumtree, A. (2017). Development of a novel pre-stressing
anchor for CFRP plates: Experimental investigations. Composite Structures, 176, 20-32.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compstruct.2017.05.011
You, Y. C., Choi, K. S., & Kim, J. (2012). An experimental investigation on flexural
behavior of RC beams strengthened with prestressed CFRP strips using a durable anchorage
system. Composites Part B: Engineering, 43(8), 3026-3036. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.compositesb.2012.05.030
1. An anchorage system (S) for distributing longitudinal tie components (2, 11, 12, 13,
14) in a composite structural element (1), the system comprising at least two symmetrically
arranged anchorage blocks (3) at each end on the tie group, characterised in that each anchorage block (3) comprises two plates (6) separated with a space, where the
plates (6) assembled by the connecting bolts (8) and connected to the central bar
(7), wherein the perforated plates (6) have holes which the internal (2, 12) and near-surface
mounted (13) tie components pass through, the space between the perforated plates
(6) is filled with adhesive material (9) to fix the internal tie components, the newly
formed (after the hardening of the filling material) lateral surfaces of the anchorage
blocks (3) are used to fix using adhesive bonding or clamping the external tie components
(11, 14) to the anchorage block (3), and the central bar (7) that is connected to
the terminals (4) of a tensioning device.
2. The anchorage system (S) according to claim 1, characterised in that the structural element (1) and the anchorage blocks (3) are produced at the same
time using the same filler material (9).
3. The anchorage system (S) according to claim 1, characterised in that the composition of the filler material (9) of the anchorage blocks (3) may differ
from the filler of the structural element (1).
4. The anchorage system (S) according to claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the filler (9) is cement- or polymer-based concrete, or other suitable filling material.
5. The anchorage system (S) according to claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the anchorage block (3) with the internal tie components (2, 12) fixed therein can
be manufactured before the structural element (1) or at least one group of longitudinal
ties (2), (11), (12), (13) and (14) is tensioned.
6. The anchorage system (S) according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that a gap (15) is provided between each of the anchorage blocks (3) and the structural
member (1) for measuring the deformations by a sensor (16).
7. The anchorage system (S) according to claims 1 to 6, characterised in that external clamping means (10) are fixed on the anchorage blocks (3), at least, for
shear restrain of the anchorage blocks (3) and fastening the external tie components
(11, 14).
8. The anchorage system (S) according to claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the anchored group of the longitudinal tie components comprises an arbitrary combination
of the internal (2, 12), external (11, 14), and near-surface mounted (13) parts wherein
said combination of the longitudinal components is defined by the design of the structural
element (1).
9. The anchorage system (S) according to claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the perforated plates (6) of the anchorage blocks (3) have an arbitrary cross-section
shape defined by the design of the structural element (1).
10. An anchoring method to distribute a longitudinal tie components in the structural
element (1) using the anchorage system (S) of the claims 1 to 9,
characterised in that the method comprises steps at least of:
- Preparing the perforated plates (6) of the anchorage blocks (3) with the shape and
perforation corresponding to the design of the structural element (1);
- Assembling the perforated plates (6), bolts (8), and central tensile bar (7) of
the anchorage blocks (3), inserting the longitudinal internal (2, 12) and near-surface
mounted (13) ties into holes of the plate (6) as required by the design of the reinforcing
tie group;
- Filling the anchorage blocks (3) with the filler (9) and allowing it to harden;
- Preparing the newly obtained lateral surfaces of the anchorage blocks (3) for fastening
of the external tie components (11, 14) and near-surface mounted ties (13);
- Fastening external tie components (11, 14) and near-surface mounted ties (13) to
the newly formed lateral surfaces of the anchorage blocks (3);
- Providing load from the terminals (4) of a tension device to the central bar (7)
of the anchorage blocks (3) and the anchored groups of the internal (2, 12), external
(11, 14), and near-surface mounted (13) ties;
- Measuring the deformations in the gaps (15) between the anchorage blocks (3) and
the structural element (1).
11. The anchoring method according to claim 10, characterised in that the external ties (11, 14) are bonded to the lateral surfaces of the anchoring blocks
(3) by bonding with adhesives, grasping with special friction plates, or tightly clamping
to the lateral surfaces of the anchoring block (3) using the external clamps (10).
12. The anchoring method according to claims 10 to 11, characterised in that the deformation measurement sensor (16) is arranged to the internal (2, 12), external
(11, 14), and near-surface mounted (13) ties in the gap (15) between the anchorage
block (3) and the structural member (1).