Abstract:
A structural beam, and methods for use, comprising a prefabricated structural concrete portion and a poured-in-place structural concrete portion, wherein said poured-in-place portion comprises at least ten percent of the total weight of said structural beam. Reinforcing extends from the prefabricated portion to the poured-in-place portion. In a preferred embodiment, the structural beam is an “inverted-T” beam, and the prefabricated structural concrete portion comprises the lower corbel portion of the beam, and the poured-in-place portion comprises an upper stem portion of the beam.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIMS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No. 11/306,507 filed Dec. 30, 2005 which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to a partially prefabricated structural concrete beam and method therefor. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Structural concrete includes prestressed concrete, post-tensioned concrete, reinforced concrete, and plain concrete, among others. The use of prefabricated structural concrete elements in bridge and building construction is an accepted means for achieving certain advantages. For example, use of such elements may speed construction and/or lower overall costs. It may also be safer for workers to erect a prefabricated concrete element as compared to pouring a similar concrete element in-place. 
         [0006]    Commonly, a plurality of flat prefabricated concrete panels are utilized to construct the deck portion of a roadway bridge; these panels typically span between longitudinal support members and are most often topped with a depth of concrete which ties the structure together and completes the roadway surface. Prefabricated concrete members are also commonly utilized in bridge construction to span across or between support columns, or to span longitudinally in support of the deck. Such prefabricated members commonly are designed such that small sections of less than ten percent of the total weight of the member are poured-in-place in the field in order to complete the needed connections between the prefabricated member and other elements of the structure, such as columns or walls. The use of such large prefabricated concrete members, therefore, is of significantly reduced benefit due to their sheer size, weight, and handling difficulties. 
         [0007]    The known prior art methods of bridge construction do not integrate, in a single beam member, prefabricated structural concrete with poured-in-place structural concrete in the manner of the present invention. In view of the prior art, a method of beam construction is needed by which a single structural concrete beam, such as an “inverted-T” bent cap, for example, beneficially utilizes both prefabricated structural concrete and poured-in-place structural concrete along a significant portion of the length of the beam. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    In view of the known prior art structural concrete members and methods, the present invention provides a partially prefabricated structural concrete beam comprising a prefabricated structural concrete portion. The structural concrete beam of the present invention further comprises a poured-in-place structural concrete portion along a significant portion of the length of the beam. In relation to the prior art, the structural concrete beam of the present invention thus reduces the effort necessary for erecting the prefabricated portion and/or effectively reduces the overall size and weight of the prefabricated portion. 
         [0009]    Other benefits of the present invention include acceleration of the expected schedule of construction, reduction in the amount of reinforcement necessarily placed by workers on-site, and/or reduction in the amount and complexity of necessary formwork. The poured-in-place portion of the present invention is not simply an incidental feature necessarily resulting from connectivity or the like; rather, it is a novel and important aspect of the overall design of the inventive beam itself. These objects are not exhaustive, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Many other applications, benefits, and advantages of the present invention will be appreciated by those of skill in the art. A further understanding of the present invention may be had by referring to the following Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    Various preferred embodiments of the current invention are further described and explained in relation to the following figures wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a partial side elevation view of the prefabricated concrete portion of an embodiment of a structural concrete support beam in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a partial side elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a structural concrete support beam in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a partial side elevation view of the prefabricated concrete portion of an embodiment of a structural concrete support beam in accordance with the present invention, more particularly illustrating a preferred embodiment of a connection between the prefabricated concrete portion and a column; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3A  is a partial plan view of the connection of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the connection of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a typical cross-sectional view of the structural concrete support beam of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a preferred cross-sectional view of the structural concrete support beam of  FIG. 2  at a support location; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the prefabricated concrete portion of  FIG. 1 , illustrating a preferred arrangement of reinforcing extending beyond the concrete limit of said prefabricated concrete portion; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the prefabricated concrete portion of a structural concrete support beam in accordance with the present invention, more particularly illustrating a preferred arrangement of formwork for constructing the poured-in-place concrete portion of said structural concrete support beam; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a structural concrete support beam in accordance with the present invention, wherein said support beam is an “L” shaped beam; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of a structural concrete support beam in accordance with the present invention, wherein said support beam is a rectangular beam; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the prefabricated concrete portion of a structural concrete support beam in accordance with the present invention, more particularly illustrating an embodiment for connecting said prefabricated concrete portion to a support column. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    The preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention are described and illustrated herein with respect to their primary use in roadway bridge construction. It is understood, however, that the present invention is not limited to use with such structures, and may be adapted for use with other types of structures as well, such as office or residential buildings, or parking garages. It is further understood that the cross-sectional shape of the inventive member as presented herein is not limited to that of an “inverted-T”, and can be embodied in any alternative cross-section in accordance with the appended claims. Those of skill in the art will recognize a multitude of uses for, and equivalent variations of, the present invention, and those enumerated specifically herein are illustrative only, and do not limit the scope of the present invention. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a partial elevation view of a preferred embodiment of a completed partially prefabricated bridge structural concrete beam in accordance with the present invention is shown. Structural concrete beam  1  is preferably an “inverted-T” beam, as shown more clearly in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . Beam  1  is preferably supported at an elevation atop a number of columns  2 . Columns  2  can be of any desired shape and material, such as a round reinforced concrete cross-section. Beam  1  comprises a prefabricated concrete portion  3  and a conventional poured-in-place concrete portion  4 . Preferably, prefabricated concrete portion  3  generally comprises the lowermost section of beam  1 , and the poured-in-place  portion  4  generally comprises the uppermost remaining section of beam  1 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
         [0025]    Prefabricated concrete portion  3  of beam  1  is preferably constructed at on off-site facility utilizing any precasting or prefabrication method as are widely known in the art, or as may be later developed. Prefabricated portion  3  is then shipped to the final construction site and erected into place as illustrated, for example, in  FIG. 1 , using a crane or other appropriate means. Prefabricated portion  3  comprises reinforcing  5  and concrete. The exact amount and placement of reinforcing  5  will, of course, vary according to the circumstances and requirements of any given application. The selection and design of the reinforcing  5  is left to the discretion of the designer, and is within the ordinary skill of structural engineers or others in the art. Reinforcing  5  may be of any type, including but not limited to conventional steel reinforcing, fiberglass, prestressing strands, and/or post-tensioning strands. Reinforcing  5  includes all reinforcing of structural member  1 , whether placed as an integral part of prefabricated portion  3  or as part of poured-in-place portion  4 . Likewise, the selection and specification of the concrete for prefabricated portion  3  is left to the discretion of the designer, and is within the ordinary skill of structural engineers or others in the art. Because only a portion of the complete structural concrete beam  1  is prefabricated, a portion of the reinforcing  5  preferably extends beyond the concrete limit of the prefabricated portion, as illustrated best in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . The extended portion of reinforcing  5  is therefore exposed until the poured-in-place portion  4  of structural concrete beam  1  is placed. In the case of the illustrated preferred embodiment at  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the upper section of the stem reinforcing is so exposed. 
         [0026]    Following shipment and erection of prefabricated concrete portion  3 , poured-in-place concrete portion  4  is constructed. The poured-in-place concrete portion  4 , in accordance with the present invention, includes all non-prefabricated concrete portions of structural concrete member  1  which are placed on-site. Preferably, all reinforcing  5  necessary or desired for poured-in-place portion  4  is already present, having been provided as a quantity of reinforcing extending beyond the concrete limit of the prefabricated portion  3  as previously described and as illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 . Alternatively, the remaining quantity of reinforcing necessary or desired for poured-in-place portion  4  is set on-site prior to placement of the concrete for poured-in-place portion  4 . 
         [0027]    Poured-in-place concrete portion  4  is constructed utilizing any of the widely known methods in the art. Wood formwork, for example, may be erected as illustrated generally in  FIG. 8 . The formwork may alternatively be comprised of any suitable material, such as steel or plastic, and may further be of multi-use or single-use construction. In any event, formwork  7  is constructed such that the concrete placement of poured-in-place portion  4  may be completed. In the case of the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 8 , workers are able to utilize the top surface of prefabricated concrete portion  3  as a work platform while erecting formwork  7  and ultimately placing the fresh concrete necessary for the completion of poured-in-place portion  4 . At an appropriate time following placement of the fresh concrete of poured-in-place portion  4 , i.e., after the concrete has sufficiently gained strength or cured, formwork  7  may be removed and the remainder of the overall greater structure may be constructed as desired. Of course, the selection and specification of the concrete for poured-in-place portion  4  is left to the discretion of the designer, and is within the ordinary skill of structural engineers or others in the art. The placement of poured-in-place portion  4  results in the creation of a cold joint  6  between prefabricated portion  3  and poured-in-place portion  4 . 
         [0028]    As described and illustrated, partially prefabricated structural concrete beam  1  is preferably a multi-span bent having an “inverted-T” cross-section for a roadway bridge. As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , such applications necessarily involve bearing of the structural beam  1  on support columns  2 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that there are numerous acceptable means for connecting or otherwise supporting structural beam  1  on columns  2 . Of course, structural concrete beam  1  may also be supported atop a wall, embankment, or the like, without detracting from the present invention. 
         [0029]    Preferably, prefabricated portion  3  is connected to columns  2  prior to the forming-up and placement of poured-in-place portion  4 . This intermediate connection improves safety and reduces the likelihood that prefabricated portion  3  will become dislodged or otherwise fall from its location atop columns  2 . One alternative method of intermediately connecting prefabricated portion  3  to column  2  is illustrated in  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A, and  4 . It is noted that in each of  FIGS. 3 ,  3 A, and  4 , reinforcing  5  is not shown for clarity. In this embodiment, prefabricated portion  3  includes a recessed bearing area  8  and void  9 . Void  9  is dimensioned so as to allow for the placement of threaded bars  13  into bar couplers  14 . Bar couplers  14  allow for the splicing of threaded bars  13  with the longitudinal reinforcing  10  of column  2 . Plate  15  is also provided, and includes a set of holes through which bars  13  are placed. Plate  15  is dimensioned such that it extends beyond the limits of void  9 . Nuts  16  are placed onto the threaded ends of bars  13  and tightened against plate  15 . Plate  15  further includes a hole or other means by which concrete may flow into void  9  upon placement of the poured-in-place  portion  3  of beam  1 . Alternatively, longitudinal reinforcing  10  may extend beyond the limit of the concrete portion of column  2  and receive nuts  16 . 
         [0030]    Recessed bearing area  8  and void  9  are illustrated again in  FIG. 6 . It is noted that in  FIG. 6 , reinforcing  5  is not shown for clarity. It is further noted that the intermediate connections of  FIGS. 3 and 3A  are omitted from  FIG. 6  for clarity. Void  9  is formed in prefabricated concrete portion  3 . Void  9  is dimensioned so as to receive threaded bars  13 , and also to provide a bearing area to insure load transfer during construction. 
         [0031]    By way of alternative example, structural concrete beam  1  may include a recessed bearing area  11  as illustrated in  FIG. 11 . It is noted that reinforcing  5  is omitted from  FIG. 11  for clarity. In this embodiment, a connection between column land structural concrete beam  1  is formed by placing headed steel reinforcing bars  12  into holes and setting them in place with epoxy. Bars  12  extend through prefabricated concrete portion  3  and into column  2 . 
         [0032]    Numerous alternatives will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and any such means of connecting or otherwise supporting structural concrete beam  1  on columns  2  may be utilized without detracting from the present invention. Such alternatives may include, without limitation: field welded steel connections, threaded bars with plates, guy wires, welded rebar, and gravity. 
         [0033]    Those of skill in the art will further appreciate that the practice of prefabricating only a portion of the structural concrete support beam  1  in accordance with the present invention will require slight modifications to the traditional or common reinforcing placement as utilized in either completely prefabricated members or completely poured-in-place members of like cross-section. For example, in the case of the “inverted-T” section as discussed and illustrated herein, some additional reinforcing may be required in the upper portion of the corbel in order to take the load produced by the placement of the fresh concrete of the poured-in-place portion, as well as the negative moment produced by the self-weight and handling of the prefabricated portion itself. 
         [0034]    Having thus described the present invention in terms of several alternative and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that those of skill in the art will appreciate the several advantages inherent in the present invention over the prior art. It is further recognized that those of skill in the art will appreciate the various geometric configurations which may be employed in designing structural concrete beams in accordance with the present invention without limitation. By way of example, a partially prefabricated structural concrete support beam according to the present invention may be constructed having an “L” shaped cross-section, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 . By way of further example, a partially prefabricated structural concrete support beam according to the present invention may be constructed having a rectangular cross-section, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In each of  FIGS. 9 and 10 , like numerals represent like elements, as each respective cross-section represents a structural concrete support beam  1  having a prefabricated concrete portion  3 , a poured-in-place concrete portion  4 , reinforcing  5 , and cold joint  6 . It will be further appreciated by those of skill in the art that the benefits of the present invention may be utilized in a number of environments other than roadway bridge construction. All embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims are therefore considered part of the present invention, as are equivalents thereof.