A BUILDING STRUCTURE, PARTICULARLY A ROAD BRIDGE STRUCTURE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a building structure of the kind set forth in claim 1.

[0002] A particulary important field of use of such a building structure is for road bridges, where the lower part consists of a supporting beam of reinforced concrete covering a span of the bridge, while the upper part serves to carry the traffic and to transfer both vertical and horizontal forces resulting from the traffic to the lower part. The invention will in the following be described with particular reference to that field of use, but it will be realized that the invention may likewise be used for other building structures where similar problems exist.

[0003] A building structure of the kind referred to is disclosed in PCT/DK 90/00211 published on 7th March 1991 under No. WO 91/02847. An important feature of that structure is that the membrane is practically not subjected to shearing or tearing stresses, because horizontal forces resulting from changes of speed and direction of vehicles driving and manoeuvering on the bridge are transferred to the anchorage blocks of the lower part in a direction perpendicular to the membrane portions covering the flanks of the anchorage blocks.

[0004] In the embodiments disclosed in PCT/DK 90/00211, the upper part comprises a continuous layer of re-inforced concrete moulded on top of the membrane and forming the recesses to accomodate the hood-clad anchorage projections of the lower part. There is however a risk that under unfavourable conditions cracks may be formed in such a layer when the lower part undergoes elastic vibrations under the traffic load. In the case of repeated vibrations the cracks are enlarged because the concrete is crushed and crumbles along the edges of the cracks, whereby the lifetime of the upper part can become unsatisfactory without, however, impairing the safeguard against penetration of liquids into the lower part of the structure.

[0005] To preclude this contingency, the invention is characterized by the features set forth in the characterizing clause of claim 1.

[0006] In a course of pavement blocks no cracks can be formed, because the joints between the blocks are suffiently pliant to absorb any vibrating forces to which the blocks may be subjected by the lower part.

[0007] From DE-A- 32 44 413 a road bridge structure is known, in which an upper, traffic-carrying part comprises a course of pavement blocks laid on top of an adhesive and sealing layer of synthetic resin, such as epoxy or polyurethane resin lacquer, applied to the upper face of a supporting lower part of reinforced concrete. In this known structure horizontal forces resulting from changes of speed and direction of vehicles driving and manoeuvering on the bridge are transferred from the pavement blocks to the lower part through adhesive and frictional forces acting on the adhesive and sealing layer in a surface-parallel direction, whereby the layer is subjected to shearing and tearing stresses that may result in the formation of fissures through which water or other liquids may penetrate into the lower part. This is avoided in the structure according to the invention where horizontal forces are transferred from the pavement blocks via the concrete fillings in the voids to the anchorage blocks, and thereby to the lower part, through the hood portions of the membrane in a direction perpendicular to the membrane material, while practically no horizontal forces are transferred through the flat area of the membrane present between the pavement blocks and the upper face of the lower part, because the membrane consists of a non-adhesive low friction material.

[0008] The concrete poured into the voids of the course of pavement blocks according to the invention may be of a type expanding in the process of setting, in order to obtain a closer fit of the concrete against the inner and outer contours of the voids, i.e. between the hood portions covering the flanks of the anchorage blocks, and the side faces of surrounding pavement blocks.

[0009] When, in a road construction, a course of pavement blocks is laid on a gravel bed, it is usual to fill the joints between the blocks with multi-grade sand, i.e. sand having grain sizes distributed over a relatively large range. Such a sand material has the property that when compressed it becomes very compact with a minimum of pore volume. That makes the sand mechanically stable and capable of transferring a certain amount of vertical forces from the block to block, whereby the depression of the edge of a block under the load of traffic is counter-acted by next block.

[0010] This mutual supporting effect of the blocks is not required in the course of pavement blocks used according to the invention, because the blocks are laid on a solid base formed by the lower part covered by the membrane.

[0011] It is therefore possible to use a sand filling material of relatively uniform grain size, such as beach sand, which, when compressed, has a much higher pore volume than multi-grade sand, and a correspondingly higher penetrability to liquids, and is therefore more suitable for draining off liquids collecting on the free surface of the upper part. Preferably the pavement blocks are laid on a thin layer of the same sand material spread on the upper surface of the membrane or a hydrophilic layer placed on top of the membrane in the same manner as disclosed in PCT/DK 90/00211.

[0012] The upper surface of the course of pavement blocks, including the surface of the concrete filling the voids, is in itself capable of carrying traffic, even heavy load traffic, such as service traffic during the construction period. If the structure is to carry normal traffic, it is however preferable to lay at least one layer of asphalt on top of the course of concrete pavement blocks and adhering thereto. Thereby the free surface of the structure assumes the character of a normal road surface, and besides the asphalt has the function of locking the pavement blocks against accidental lifting or tilting under the influence of high speed traffic.

[0013] With the exception of the differences following from the above explanation, all features and functions of the building structure disclosed in PCT/DK 90/00211 are applicable to that of the present invention.

[0014] The invention will now be further described with reference to the drawings in which

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section through a building structure according to one embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section along the line II-II in Fig. 1.

[0015] In Fig. 1 a liquid impervious membrane 1 is loosely laid out on the upper surface of a reinforced concrete beam 2. Anchorage blocks 3 of a solid strong material are bolted to the upper surface of beam 2 and are covered with hoods 4 of the membrane material having horizontal collars 5 which are sealed to the membrane cloth 1. A draining mat 6 of hydrophilic material is placed on top of the membrane cloth 1. On the top of the draining mat a course of concrete pavement blocks 7 are laid in a thin layer of beach sand (not shown). The joints 8 between the pavement blocks are likewise filled with beach sand. The pavement blocks 7 are of the well-known type having zig-zag contour portions fitting together in a firm bonding pattern, such as the product marketed under the trade-name of SF pavement blocks.

[0016] Pavement blocks 7 are omitted in areas around each hood-clad anchorage block 3,4 so as to form voids which are filled with concrete 9 which may be of the expanding type to establish a particularly close fit between the hood-clad anchorage blocks 3-4 and the surrounding pavement blocks 7.

[0017] A layer of asphalt 10 is laid on top of the pavement blocks and the surface of the concrete 9 filling the voids. This layer adheres to the pavement blocks and thereby locks these against accidental lifting or tilting under the influence of high-speed traffic, as previously mentioned. The avoidance of lifting or tilting of the blocks therefore does not depend on the thickness and weight of the pavement blocks 7. These can therefore be made considerably thinner and lighter than in a pavement laid on a gravel bed. The consequent reduction of the gravity of the pavement is particularly important in the case of bridge structures.

[0018] 11 symbolizes the wheels of vehicles driving and manoeuvering on the bridge. The horizontal forces thereby exerted on the asphalt layer are transferred from this layer via the pavement blocks 7, the concrete fillings 9, the hoods 4 and the anchorage blocks 3 to the beam 2.

Claims

1. A building structure comprising an upper part (7,8,9,10) having an exposed upper surface and consisting of building materials permitting the penetration of liquid collecting on said upper surface, a lower part (2) forming a structural support of the upper part, a liquid impervious membrane (1) interposed between the lower part (2) and the upper part (7,8,9,10) for the purpose of preventing the penetration of liquid through the upper part (7,8,9,10) to the lower part (2), distributed anchorage blocks (3) projecting upwards from the upper surface of the lower part (2) and fitting tightly in hood portions of the membrane (4,5), which again fit tightly in recesses formed in the upper part (7,8,9,10), the membrane (1) consisting of a non-adhesive material having practically zero friction at least towards the areas of the upper part (7,8,9,10) with which it is in contact, wherein the upper part (7,8,9,10) comprises a course of concrete pavement blocks (7), in which blocks are omitted to form a void (9) around each of the hood-clad (4) anchorage blocks (3), the voids (9) being filled with concrete poured in situ and forming the recesses accommodating the hood-clad anchorage blocks (3,4).

2. A building structure as in claim 1, characterized in that the concrete poured into the voids (9) is of a type expanding in the process of setting.

3. A building structure as in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the joints of the pavement course (8) are filled with sand of relatively homogeneous grain size, such as beach sand.

4. A building structure as in any of the beforegoing claims, characterized in that it further comprises at least one layer of asphalt (10) laid on top of the course of concrete pavement blocks (7) and adhering thereto.

5. A building structure as in any of the beforegoing claims, characterized in that it further comprises a drainage layer of hydrophilic material (6) interposed between the upper surface of the membrane (1) and the course of concrete pavement blocks (7).

6. A building structure as in any of the beforegoing claims, characterized in that the concrete pavement blocks (7) are of the type having zig-zag contour portions fitting together in a firm bonding pattern.

Ansprüche

1. Baukonstruktion, umfassend einen Oberteil (7,8,9,10), der eine freie Oberfläche hat und aus Baumaterialien besteht, die das Durchdringen von Flüssigkeit, die sich auf der genannten Oberfläche sammelt, zulässt, einen Unterteil (2), der als bauliche Unterstützung des Oberteilt dient, eine zwischen dem Unterteil (2) und dem Oberteil (7,8,9,10) vorgesehene flüssigkeitundurchlässige Membrane (1) zur Verhinderung des Durchdringens von Flüssigkeit durch den Oberteil (7,8,9,10) in den Unterteil (2) hinein, verteilt angeordnete Verankerungsblöcke, die sich von der Oberfläche des Unterteils (2) nach oben erstrecken und von haubenförmigen Teilen der Membrane (4,5) eng umschlossen sind, die wiederum von Höhlen des Oberteils (7,8,9,10) eng umschlossen sind, wobei die Membrane (1) aus einem nicht klebenden Maerial besteht und wenigstens gegenüber den Bereichen des Oberteils (7,8,9,10), mit denen sie in Berührung gelangt, praktisch reibungsfrei ist, wobei ferner der Oberteil (7,8,9,10) eine Schicht von Pflasterblöcken (7) aus Beton umfasst, in der Blöcke weggelassen sind, um eine Lücke (9) um jeden haubenbekleideten (4) Verankerungsblock (3) herum zu bilden, welche Lücken mit Beton gefüllt werden, das in situ eingegossen wird und die die haubenbekleideten Verankerungsblöcke (3,4) aufnehmenden Höhlen bilden.

2. Baukonstruktion gemäss Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das in die Lücken (9) eingegossene Beton ein solches ist, das sich beim Härten erweitert.

3. Baukonstruktion gegmäss Anspruch 1 oder 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Fugen (8) der Pflasterschicht mit Sand von verhältnismässig gleichartiger Korngrösse, wie z.B. Strandsand gefüllt sind.

4. Baukonstruktion nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie wenigstens eine Asphaltschicht (10) aufweist, die auf die Oberfläche der Beton-Pflasterblöcke aufgetragen ist und daran haftet.

5. Baukonstruktion gemäss einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass sie ferner eine Drainierungsschicht aus hydrophilem Material (6) zwischen der Oberfläche der Membrane (1) und den Beton-Pflasterblöcken (7) aufweist.

6. Baukonstruktion gemäss einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Beton-Pflasterblöcke (7) solche sind, die zickzackförmige Umrissteile aufweisen, die in einem festen Bindungsmuster ineinander eingreifen.

Revendications

1. Une structure de construction comprenant: une partie supérieure (7, 8, 9, 10) ayant une surface supérieure exposée et composée de matériaux de construction permettant la pénétration des liquides rassemblés sur la surface supérieure; une partie inférieure (2) constituant l'élément porteur de la partie supérieure; une membrane (1) imperméable aux liquides interposée entre la partie inférieure (2) et la partie supérieure (7, 8, 9, 10) afin d'empêcher l'infiltration dans la partie inférieure (2) des substances liquides provenant de la partie supérieure (7, 8, 9, 10); des blocs d'ancrage (3) répartis et prenant assise sur la surface supérieure de la partie inférieure (2), sur lesquels sont ajustées des coiffes de même matériau que la membrane (4, 5), lesquelles coiffes s'insèrent à leur tour étroitement dans des alvéoles aménagés dans la partie supérieure (7, 8, 9, 10), la membrane (1) se composant d'un matériau non-adhésif à coefficient de friction pratiquement nul, tout au moins par rapport aux surfaces de la partie supérieure (7, 8, 9, 10) avec laquelle elle est en contact et qui comprend un pavé en briques de béton (7) dont certaines sont omises pour laisser des cavités (9) autour des blocs d'ancrage (3) et des coiffes (4) qui les recouvrent, cavités qui sont comblées avec du béton coulé en place et forment les alvéoles dans lesquelles se logent les blocs d'ancrage recouverts de leurs coiffes (3, 4).

2. Structure de construction, similaire à celle exposée dans la revendication 1, ayant pour caractéristique le fait que le béton coulé dans les cavités (9) est d'un type qui la propriété de se dilater pendant la prise.

3. Structure de construction similaire à celle exposée dans la revendication 1 ou 2, ayant pour caractéristique le fait que les jointures des éléments du pavé (8) sont colmatées avec du sable à grain de taille relativement homogène, tel le sable de plage.

4. Structure de construction similaire à toute structure de construction objet de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-avant exposées, ayant pour caractéristique le fait qu'elle comporte en sus au moins une couche d'asphalte (10) étendu sur le pavé de briques de béton (7) auquel elle adhère.

5. Structure de construction similaire à toute structure de construction objet de l'une quelconque des revendications ci-avant exposées, ayant pour caractéristique le fait qu'elle comporte en sus une couche drainante composée d'un matériau hydrophile (6), interposée entre la face supérieure de la membrane (1) et le pavé de briques de bétons (7).

6. Structure de construction similaire à toute structure de construction objet des revendications ci-avant exposées, ayant pour caractéristique le fait que le pavé (7) se compose de briques de béton à contour en zig-zig, disposées selon une structure d'imbrication solide.

Drawing