Abstract:
A reinforcing element ( 10 ) for structural concrete construction comprising a rod-shaped bar ( 11 ) having a cross-sectional enlargement on at least one end thereof. The rod shaped member ( 11 ) comprises an elbow portion ( 12 ) on said at least one end being embedded in a protection block ( 15 ), thereby forming said enlargement. The method for producing the reinforcing element and the corresponding reinforced structural concrete construction are also provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a reinforcing element for structural concrete construction, in particular for reinforced or prestressed concrete construction, comprising a rod-shaped bar having a cross-sectional enlargement on at least one end thereof. The method for producing the reinforcing element and the corresponding reinforced structural concrete construction are also provided. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Reinforcement in structural concrete is placed to carry tensile forces due to the limited and unreliable tensile strength of concrete. In order to ensure an adequate performance and durability of the reinforcement, two aspects should be taken into account. 
         [0003]    The bars require sufficient concrete cover to avoid rusting and corrosion problems. Typical values for this cover lay between 35 to 50 mm. Moreover, a minimum embedment length (or development length) has to be provided so that the reinforcement can develop its yield strength. Typical values for this length in ordinary concrete lay between 35 to 40 times the diameter of the bar. 
         [0004]    The need for providing a minimal concrete cover for the reinforcement and thus leaving the outer layers of concrete without any reinforcement leads in some cases to premature spalling of the concrete cover. This leads to undesirable brittle failure modes. Spalling of the concrete cover is particularly significant with respect to some types of lightweight aggregate concrete (with a very brittle behaviour in compression) or for punching shear reinforcement close to support regions, where spalling of the concrete cover may develop prior to failure. 
         [0005]    In addition to cover spalling, large development lengths lead sometimes to unpractical layouts of reinforcement, difficult to place or with reduced performance. 
         [0006]    Various embodiments have been proposed in the past in order to avoid some of the aforementioned problems. For instance, the use of stainless steel allows providing reduced concrete cover. However, such steels are still very expensive compared to ordinary reinforcement. 
         [0007]    The addition of fibres to the concrete provides a partial solution to the problem of cover spalling. However, this solution is also expensive and is only used in special cases such as complicated formworks or tunnel linings. 
         [0008]    Reinforcements using T-headed bars or studs both of them presenting a metallic head or bolt at the ends of the bar allowing thus a suitable development of the bar have been introduced to reduce the required development length. Such solutions however do not solve the problem of the necessary concrete cover. 
         [0009]    The document US 2006/0090416, Braasch et al. “Reinforcing element for concrete construction” describes the use of anchorage bolts cast in glass-fibre reinforced plastic. A reinforcing element for concrete construction in the form of a set bolt is formed of a rod-shaped section with a cross-sectional enlargement provided on the end. The cross-sectional enlargement is formed of glass-fibre reinforced plastic and has an axial bore in its centre. The cross-sectional enlargement is provided as a separate part engaged in a form-locking manner with the rod-shaped section of the set bolt. The two components are connected by gluing, screwing, fusing, etc. In the disclosed document, the bar and bolts always lay inside the concrete. The disclosed embodiments do not allow introducing intermediate pieces as suspension points and the significant size of the bolts does not allow using them in all types of configuration, such as for instance thin slabs. 
         [0010]    The document US 2007/0175127 A1, “Shearing force reinforced structure and member” discloses the use of a link member to reinforce an existing concrete member. The document discloses a shearing force reinforced structure for an existing reinforced concrete structure body. The structure is configured with a side wall of an existing reinforced concrete structure, shearing force reinforced members arranged inside reinforced member insertion holes with bottoms formed in a direction intersecting a major reinforcing bar of the side wall. Fillers are provided in the holes. Each of the shearing force reinforced members is configured with a shearing force reinforcing bar, a plate head and a ring head respectively fixed at a base end and top end of the reinforcing bar. This technique is exclusively to be post-installed by boring holes in an existing member. 
         [0011]    EP 1 905 923, “Ankerstab and Anordung zum Vesrtärken von betehenden Bauteilen gegen Durchstanzen mit einem solven Ankerstab” relates to an arrangement for reinforcing existing constructional components against punching shears with an anchor bar having an anchoring section and a threaded section to receive a tensioning nut and an intermediate section. The intermediate section has a coating and a sleeve that surrounds the anchor bar. The intermediate section is located between the anchoring section and the threaded section and has an anti-adhesive surface. This document also relates to a system exclusively to be post-installed by boring holes in an existing member. 
         [0012]    WO 02/48476 relates to the integration of bundles of reinforcing fibres in a curable material such as concrete. The proposed solution consists in preparing bundles of reinforcing fibres, the fibres of a bundle being joined at the ends thereof by means of an adhering substance that loses its cohesion under the influence of mechanical forces during the mixing of the reinforcement bundles with the curable material. In order not to add substance that become dissolved or dispersed in or react with the curable material, the adhering substance comprises a material which is substantially inert with respect to the non-cured curable material. These fibers or bundles are of about 2 to 3 centimeters length with a diameter of about 100 μm. They are mixed within the curable material before said curable material is used. The aim is to obtain a curable material comprising reinforcing fibres that are no longer joined, but are spread separately in the curable material after mixing. Said fibres provide protection in all directions against cracking, but do not provide a specific reinforcement along a specific direction. Said fibers are therefore quite different from and not comparable with reinforcing bars usually used in reinforced concrete. 
         [0013]    Thus, there is a need for a reinforcing bar avoiding the above mentioned drawbacks. Such bars should be usable within new concrete constructions. 
         [0014]    There is also a need for a low cost reinforcing bar that may be used in various configurations and avoiding corrosion. 
         [0015]    There is also a need for a reinforcing bar allowing minimizing embedment length in concrete. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    According to the invention, these aims are achieved by means of a reinforcing element for structural concrete construction, in particular for reinforced or prestressed concrete construction, comprising: 
         [0017]    a rod-shaped bar having a cross-sectional enlargement on at least one end thereof; 
         [0018]    said rod shaped bar comprising an elbow portion on said at least one end; 
         [0019]    said elbow portion being embedded in a protection block thereby forming said enlargement. 
         [0020]    This reinforcing element provides a single solution in order to solve at the same time the problems of minimum concrete cover, spalling of the concrete cover and development length. 
         [0021]    The reinforcing element involves a rod-shaped bar, that is to say an elongated reinforcing component that is oriented in a specific reinforcement direction, and that is not mixed with the curable material for instance like the fibres of WO 02/48476, but preliminary placed in a determined position within the formwork before the concrete is casted, as usual in reinforced concrete. Moreover, a rod-shaped bar features a much longer length and diameter (for instance 15 to 25 cm long or even up to 50 cm in certain cases where the concrete construction is substantially thick, and about 10 to 12 mm diameter) than fibres of WO 02/48476 (for instance about 2 to 3 cm long and about 100 μm diameter). 
         [0022]    Such reinforcing element allows developing the tensile forces of the reinforcing bar within a series of high-performance protection blocks that also protect the bar from corroding or rusting. 
         [0023]    In a first embodiment, the protection block material is concrete and preferably high or ultra high performance concrete. In a second embodiment, the protection block material is selected from the list comprising ceramic, resin. Any of the above mentioned materials may be reinforced with fibers. 
         [0024]    The protection block is preferably disk-shaped, but several variants, such as parallelepiped shapes may also be provided. 
         [0025]    In an embodiment, the protection block material is substantially impermeable (watertight). In a variant, at least the outer portion of said protection block is provided with a substantially low permeability of low porosity material. 
         [0026]    In a further embodiment, the protection block material provides high adhesion to said rod-shaped bar. Optimization of embedment length may be obtained if the protection block surface interfacing with said rod-shaped bar provides a substantially high adhesion to the rod-shaped bar. 
         [0027]    In a further embodiment, the reinforcing element comprises two protection blocks, one at each end thereof. 
         [0028]    In a still further embodiment, the rod-shaped bar is U-shaped with a connecting leg provided between the two axial portions and further comprises a protection block in which said connecting leg is at least partially embedded. 
         [0029]    In a variant, the reinforcing element is further provided with a protection channel provided on one axial portion of the rod-shaped bar, at the immediate proximity of said protection block. Such a channel may be helpful to provide extended impermeability along the main portion. 
         [0030]    In a further embodiment, the elbow portion comprises an angled portion and a radial member extending substantially radially from adjacent axial portion. 
         [0031]    In a preferred embodiment, the angle between the radial member and adjacent axial portion is substantially 90 degrees. Other values can be considered to enhance bond performance, in particular angles lower than 90 degrees. 
         [0032]    The invention also provides a method for producing a reinforcing element for structural concrete construction in the form of a rod-shaped bar provided with a protection block at one end thereof, comprising the steps of producing said rod-shaped bar, bending end portion of said rod bar, covering said bent portion with a protection block. 
         [0033]    The protection block may be provided by molding or by spraying. 
         [0034]    The invention further provides a reinforced structural concrete construction, comprising: 
         [0035]    a concrete volume to be reinforced; 
         [0036]    a rod-shaped bar comprising an elbow portion on said at least one end, said elbow portion being embedded in a protection block; 
         [0037]    said rod-shaped bar being at least partially embedded in said concrete volume according to a given reinforcing position in which said protection bloc is also at least partially embedded in said concrete volume in order to provide said reinforced concrete construction. 
         [0038]    In an advantageous variant, the protection bloc is fully embedded in said concrete volume. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0039]    The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description of an embodiment given by way of example and illustrated by the figures, in which: 
           [0040]      FIG. 1   a  illustrates known type reinforcement in concrete and the required concrete cover for such reinforcement; 
           [0041]      FIG. 1   b  shows the standard development length for current reinforcements; 
           [0042]      FIG. 1   c  shows spalling cracks on the compression face of a structural concrete member; 
           [0043]      FIG. 1   d  presents a conventional T-headed bar and the corresponding concrete cover; 
           [0044]      FIG. 2   a  is a schematic representation of a reinforcing member in accordance with the invention; 
           [0045]      FIG. 2   b  is a first variant of the reinforcing member of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0046]      FIG. 2   c  is a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the reinforcing member of the invention; 
           [0047]      FIG. 2   d  depicts a variant of the embodiment of  FIG. 2   c;    
           [0048]      FIG. 3  illustrates the reduction of concrete cover that is due to the use of a reinforcement element of the invention; 
           [0049]      FIG. 4  illustrates the reduction of development length that is due to the use of a reinforcement element of the invention; 
           [0050]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show applications as shear or punching shear reinforcing systems; 
           [0051]      FIG. 7  represents an application as confinement reinforcement to avoid concrete cover spalling; 
           [0052]      FIG. 8  shows a further use in an application as tension anchorage reinforcement; 
           [0053]      FIG. 9  depicts an application as a link between two parts of a concrete member cast at different ages. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0054]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0055]      FIGS. 1   a  to  1   d  illustrates known type reinforcements embedded in concrete constructions. In  FIG. 1   a , the reinforcement  1  is configured such as to provide a concrete cover having a minimum thickness CC 1 . The bars require sufficient concrete cover to avoid rusting and corrosion problems. Typical values for this cover lay between 35 to 50 mm. 
         [0056]    In  FIG. 1   d , the concrete cover is arranged such as to provide a minimum thickness CC 1  between known type T-headed bar reinforcement and the concrete surface, for the same reasons as above. 
         [0057]      FIG. 1   b  shows the development length DL 1  required in a known type installation. To sustain the traction efforts, the bar shall be embedded in the concrete. For important charges, DL 1  may require significant embedment length. Depending on the specific construction configuration, such a length may sometimes not be provided. 
         [0058]      FIG. 1   c  illustrates the problem of cover spalling, after spalling cracks  22  have appeared in the reinforced concrete of prior art installations. 
         [0059]      FIGS. 2   a  to  2   d  illustrate various embodiments of a reinforcing element  10  according to the invention. First, in  FIG. 2   a , the reinforcing element  10  is provided with an extended rod-shape bar  11 . This rod-shaped bar is preferably made with steel alloys. The axial portion  16  of the rod-shaped bar  11  is substantially elongated, and generally substantially linear. The length of the rod-shape bar may vary depending on the type of application, the required reinforcement level and the concrete construction thickness. For instance, in typical structural concrete constructions, the length is substantially between 15 to 30 cm, or more in certain cases. For instance, in specific applications, the length may reach up to about 50 cm. Other dimensions are also possible without departing from the invention. It is also to be noted that in this document, “rod-shaped bar” also includes wires and strands, for instance, similar to those used in prestressed concrete. Rod-shaped bars generally feature diameters substantially between 10 to 12 mm. Wires and strands generally have diameters substantially between 5 to 6 mm. 
         [0060]    At least one end of the rod-shaped bar is provided with an elbow portion  12 , having an angled portion  13  joining the axial portion  16  to a radial portion  14 . In the illustrated examples, the angle α between radial member  14  and adjacent axial portion  16  is substantially 90 degrees. Angles near 90 degrees provide high anchoring force between the rod-shaped bar and the block. Other angle values may be provided depending on the mechanical requirements of the construction work. 
         [0061]    The length of the axial and radial portions  16  and  14  depends on the application in which the reinforcing member shall be used. More particularly, the length of the radial portion  14  is defined as a function of the global resistance to be provided in the planned construction. For more convenience and in order to reduce manufacturing costs of the reinforcing elements  10 , the most usual standard dimensions may be provided on a large scale manufacturing basis. 
         [0062]    The elbow portion  12  is embedded in a protection block  15 . This protection block provides a very efficient protection against corrosion and rusting of the rod-shaped bar  11 . It also contributes to reduce the required embedment length. In order to perform these functions as efficiently as possible, the block  15  is preferably made with a material having low porosity or permeability. The material is to be such that protection to corrosion, considering the bar cover within the block (typically equal to the diameter of the bar), is the same as the protection with ordinary cover in traditional reinforced concrete members. 
         [0063]    To comply with these criteria, the block  15  may be made with concrete, preferably high or ultra-high performance concrete or similar cementitious materials, preferably reinforced with fibers, such as Ductal, a well known UHPFRC (Ultra High Performance Fiber Reinforced Concrete). The block  15  may also be made with other materials, such as ceramic, resin or synthetic material. 
         [0064]    The selected material should also preferably provide high adherence between the material and the rod-shaped bar  11 . Typical average values of bond strength measured in standard pull-out tests (according to RILEM/CEB/FIP—RC6 recommendations 1978) lay between 40 to 60 MPa. 
         [0065]    Variants using more than one material may also be provided. In a first example, a block  15  comprises two materials, one for the outer surfaces, having very low permeability, and one for the inner volume of the block, offering less permeability protection, but allowing producing at lower global costs. In still another variant, the material providing the interfacing surface with the rod-shaped bar  11  is specifically selected to provide high adherence with the latter. 
         [0066]    The protection block  15  shape or profile may vary depending on the type of use, the mechanical properties, manufacturing costs, etc. In the illustrated examples, the blocks  15  have disk profiles. Other profiles such as parallelepiped may also be used. The block dimensions are determined in order to optimize the global mechanical properties of the construction work using the reinforcing elements. For best results, a minimum thickness of material covering the elbow portion  12  is provided. 
         [0067]    In the illustrated examples, the elbow portions  12  are fully embedded in the blocks  15 . However, variants in which the elbow portions are only partly embedded may also be provided. For instance, a protection block may entirely or partly embed the radial portion  14  only, while the angled portion  13  is not embedded. This would allow protecting the reduced embedded area against rusting and corrosion. 
         [0068]      FIG. 2   b  shows a variant of the embodiment of  FIG. 2   a  in which two protection blocks  15  are provided, one at each end, in an arrangement similar to the previously described arrangement of  FIG. 2   a , involving elbow portions  12  imbedded in protection blocks  15  at both ends of the reinforcing element  10 . 
         [0069]      FIG. 2   c  and  FIG. 2   d  illustrate embodiments with U-shaped reinforcing elements  10  in which two axial portions  16  are provided on each side of a connecting leg  17 . In the embodiment of  FIG. 2   c , the connecting leg  17  is not covered or embedded. Both free ends of the axial portions  16  are provided with embedded elbow arrangement similar to the previously described arrangement in relation with  FIG. 2   a . The embodiment of  FIG. 2   d  differs from the latter in that the connecting leg  17  is at least partially embedded in a protection block  15 . In the example shown in  FIG. 2   d , the connecting leg  17  is entirely embedded. 
         [0070]    The rod-shaped bars  11  to be used can either be ordinary or high-strength reinforcing bars or pre-stressing bars or tendons to be fully or partly embedded in structural concrete members where at least one end is embedded in a protection block  15 . 
         [0071]      FIG. 3  presents a comparison between the standard concrete cover required minimal thickness CC 1  and minimal concrete cover CC 2  resulting from the invention. The protection block of the reinforcement element may be placed into the CC 1  zone of prior art installations, thus reducing considerably the concrete cover minimal thickness. 
         [0072]      FIG. 4  depicts a comparison between the standard embedment length required DL 1  and embedment length DL 2  resulting from the invention. The use of an elbow portion  15  embedded in a protection block allows to significantly reduce the embedment length from DL 1  (prior art configuration) to DL 2 . Typical values of DL 2  lay between 10% and 15% of DL 1   
         [0073]    In  FIGS. 5 to 9 , examples of uses of a reinforcing member  10  of the invention in structural applications are given. 
         [0074]    As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the reinforcing element  10  can be used as a high performance shear and punching shear reinforcing system. The figures show that the compression face of the slab is suitably confined and that all reinforcements are suitably developed. In  FIG. 5 , U-shaped reinforcing elements are used. An example of punching shear crack  21  is provided in the Figure. In  FIG. 6 , U-shaped reinforcing elements in which the connecting legs  17  are provided with protection blocks are used. In a variant, inclined reinforcements can also be used. 
         [0075]      FIG. 7  shows a further application in which the confinement reinforcement for members cast with brittle (high strength or lightweight) concrete. The struts developing close to the compression face are suitably confined and premature spalling of the piece is avoided. Examples of cover spalling crack  22  are provided in the Figure. As shown in the Figure, the protection blocks  15  are not embedded in the concrete. Protection channels  20  are provided adjacent to protection blocks and provide further corrosion protection. The protection channels  20  are preferably made with the same material as the blocks. In such a case, they may be molded together with the blocks during manufacturing. Partial embedment of the blocks is also possible. 
         [0076]      FIG. 8  illustrates an application in which a reinforcing element  10  is used to provide anchorage points for structural concrete members. In this application, the reinforcing element configuration is designed to leave a portion of the element outside the structural concrete member, allowing using the free portion as tension anchorage reinforcement. As shown on the Figure, a protection block  15  is provided to protect the rod-shaped bar  11  in order not to leave it in direct contact with the outer atmosphere. 
         [0077]      FIG. 9  shows that the reinforcing element  10  may further be used as a link member to connect two parts of a structural concrete member cast at different ages or two different concrete members  40  and  41 . 
         [0078]    The above detailed description with reference to the drawings illustrates rather than limit the invention. There are numerous alternatives, which fall within the scope of the appended claims. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed in a claim. The word “a” or “an” preceding an element or step does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps. The mere fact that respective dependent claims define respective additional features, does not exclude a combination of additional features, which corresponds to a combination of dependent claims. 
         [0079]    Of course, the reinforcing elements of the present invention can be used in structural concrete construction in combination with the use of fibres, as for example those described in WO 02/48476, which are spread into the concrete before cast of said concrete.