Building structure

Abstract

A building structure with a base unit and building unit that can be moved relative to the base unit is provided with a joint cover, which bridges a compensating joint between the building unit and base unit, supported on the building unit and on the base unit. At least one of the two support structures has sliding partners, one of which is a sliding partner paired with the building or base unit in a fixed position and the other of which is a sliding partner paired with the joint cover in a fixed position. One of the sliding partners is designed as a sliding ramp in a region such that when the sliding ramp contacts the paired sliding partner, an approaching movement of the building unit towards the base unit raises the joint cover. The sliding ramp may be designed with a continuously decreasing pitch.

Claims

1. A building structure comprising: a walkable or drivable joint cover covering an expansion joint, the expansion joint having a clear width; and a bracing structure allowing for lateral relative movement, the bracing structure comprising a braced sliding partner associated in a positionally fixed relationship with the joint cover and a bracing sliding partner, wherein the joint cover is braced by the bracing structure, and within the bracing structure, the braced sliding partner is braced on the bracing sliding partner, wherein the bracing sliding partner has a lifting region constructed as a sliding ramp such that during sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the sliding ramp of the bracing sliding partner generated by a reduction of the clear width, such sliding contact leads to lifting of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure, wherein the sliding ramp comprises a degression curvature portion with a steadily decreasing slope such that, upon sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp generated by the reduction of the clear width, a ratio of a vertical velocity of lifting of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure to a horizontal velocity of the reduction of the clear width decreases steadily.

2. The building structure of claim 1, wherein the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp has a sliding face curved with steadily changing curvature.

3. The building structure of claim 2, wherein the curvature of the curved sliding face at the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp curves according to a parabola portion or a clothoid portion.

4. The building structure of claim 1, wherein the braced sliding partner sliding on the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp has a convexly curved geometry.

5. The building structure of claim 4, wherein a sum of a smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at least 25 mm.

6. The building structure of claim 5, wherein the sum of the smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at least 40 mm.

7. The building structure of claim 4, wherein a sum of a smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at most 90 mm.

8. The building structure of claim 7, wherein the sum of the smallest radii of curvature of the degression curvature portion of the sliding ramp and the braced sliding partner cooperating slidingly therewith is at most 70 mm.

9. The building structure of claim 1, wherein the bracing sliding partner further comprises a displacement region having a horizontal sliding face that, during sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the horizontal sliding face, a laterally directed movement of the braced sliding partner relative to the bracing sliding partner has no effect on a vertical position of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure.

10. The building structure of claim 9, wherein the sliding ramp and the horizontal sliding face merge directly into one another, wherein, during the reduction of the clear width, continuous bracing of the joint cover on a corresponding bracing structure is maintained at either the displacement region or the lifting region.

11. The building structure of claim 10, wherein the sliding ramp merges into the horizontal sliding face without any discontinuity with respect to the slope.

12. The building structure of claim 1, wherein the sliding ramp has a progression curvature portion with a steadily increasing slope such that, upon sliding contact of the braced sliding partner with the progression curvature portion of the sliding ramp during the reduction of the clear width, the ratio of the vertical velocity of lifting of the joint cover adjacent the bracing structure to the horizontal velocity of the reduction of the clear width increases steadily.

13. The building structure of claim 12, wherein the progression curvature portion of the sliding ramp has a sliding face curved with steadily increasing curvature.

14. The building structure of claim 13, wherein the curvature of the curved sliding face adjacent the progression curvature portion of the sliding ramp curves according to a clothoid portion.

15. The building structure of claim 1 comprising two bracing structures and a centering device acting on the joint cover.

16. The building structure of claim 15, wherein the centering device comprises a hold-down means acting on the joint cover.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) The present invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter on the basis of two exemplary embodiments shown in the drawing, wherein

(2) FIG. 1 shows, in a general view, a vertical section through a first inventive building structure,

(3) FIG. 1a shows a detail of the building structure according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 2 shows, in a general view, a vertical section through a second inventive building structure,

(5) FIG. 2a shows a detail of the building structure according to FIG. 2, and

(6) FIG. 3 to FIG. 8 show the detail according to FIG. 2a during advancing reduction of the clear width of the expansion joint under the effect of a seismic event.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(7) The building structure illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a comprises two building units 1, of which respectively the base 2, a compensating structure 3 and a walkable covering 4 are shown. (A corresponding description would apply to an analogous implementation of this exemplary embodiment of the invention for an expansion joint that is present between a basic structural unit and a building unit and is bridged by means of a joint cover.) The first and the second building units 1 are bearing-mounted to be laterally movable relative to one another. Between them, specifically between the two bases 2, there is an expansion joint 5. This is bridged with a walkable joint cover 6, which comprises a support plate 7, rim profiles 8, a compensating structure 9 and a walkable covering 10. This support plate 7 is embedded at its rims in corresponding receptacles 11 of rim profiles 8, such that it rests on rim-profile legs 12. Covering 10 is embraced laterally by rim-profile wall portions 13.

(8) Joint cover 6 is braced respectively via a bracing structure 14 on the first and the second building unit 1. Each of these bracing structures 14 comprises a pairing of two sliding partners, namely one bracing sliding partner 15 associated in positionally fixed relationship with the building unit 1 in question and one braced sliding partner 16 associated in positionally fixed relationship with the joint cover.

(9) This bracing sliding partner 15 comprises a sliding plate 17 bearing-mounted on base 2 of the building unit 1 in question as well aslikewise mounted on base 2 of the building unit 1 in questiona ramp profile 18. The respective fastening screws 19 are also shown. Surface 20 of this sliding plate 17 forms a horizontal sliding face 21; and surface 22 of ramp profile 18 formsmerging into one another without stepped discontinuity and without kinka horizontal sliding face 23 and a sliding ramp 24. The horizontal sliding faces 21 and 23 on the sliding plate and those constructed on the sliding profile lie at the same level. Together they define a displacement region, in the sense that, during sliding contact of braced sliding partner 16 on horizontal sliding face 21 or 23, a laterally directed movement of the two sliding partners 15 and 16 relative to one another in response to a change of the clear width of the joint gap of expansion joint 5 has no effect on the position of joint cover 6 in the region of the bracing structure 14 in question in vertical direction. A strip 26 consisting of a sliding materialcountersunk in a corresponding groove 25is inserted into horizontal sliding face 23 of ramp profile 18. This sliding-material strip 26 has a different surface texture, specifically a lower hardness and a smaller ratio of static friction and sliding friction than sliding ramp 24 and also than sliding plate 17.

(10) Braced sliding partner 16 is formed by a bulge (or cam) 27, which is constructed on the bottom of rim profile 8 of joint cover 6 and the surface of which is constructed in the form of a portion of a circular cylinder. In the design configurationshown in FIGS. 1 and 1a(at average temperature and absence of seismic influences), bulge 27 of rim profile 8 is located approximately centrally on sliding-material strip 26. The width of this sliding-material strip 26 is matched in such a way to the thermal expansion/contraction of building units 1 (and also of joint cover 6) that, within the normal spectrum of operating temperature, rim profile 8 is always positioned with bulge 27 upright on sliding-material strip 26; thus a service path for normal thermal compensating movements is present on the sliding-material strip. Seal 28, which is clamped between rim profile 8 and ramp profile 18, and which in any case does not project upward beyond covering 4 of building unit 1 and covering 10 of joint cover 6 in the design configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, has such flexibility that it does not hinder the relative movement of building unit 1 and joint cover 6 relative to one another in the scope of the service path.

(11) A lifting region is defined by sliding ramp 24 of ramp profile 18 in the sense that, during approach (caused by seismic influences) of the two building units 1 relative to one another and accordingly a reduction of the clear width of expansion joint 5 of the braced sliding partner 16, i.e. bulge 27 of rim profile 8 slides on sliding ramp 24 after leaving sliding-material strip 26, wherein joint cover 6 is lifted in the region of the bracing structure 14 in question as soon as bulge 27 of rim profile 8 makes contact with sliding ramp 24 during continued movement. In actual fact, in the building structure according to FIGS. 1 and 1a, such lifting of joint cover 6 takes place synchronously in the region of both bracing structures 14. This is so because a centering device 29 (operating according to the principle known as such; see WO 01/98599 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 10,053,857 B1) acts on joint cover 6. This comprises several centering struts 30, which are oriented at an inclination to the joint direction and which are respectively linked at the ends on both sides via swivel heads 31 (ball hinges) to slides 32, which are guided displaceably on linear guides 33 extending parallel to the joint direction. These linear guides 33 are respectively attached to a protrusion of the sliding plate 17 in question extending beyond the base 2 in question. Via a vertical centering bolt 34, the middle of joint cover 6 and the middle of the respective centering strut 30 are aligned perfectly one above the other and, in fact, always at their center and always and independently of the instantaneous clear width of the joint gap of compensating joint 5. Centering device 29 comprises a hold-down means 35 acting on joint cover 6, in that a compression-loaded, prestressed hold-down spring 37 acts between the underside of centering strut 30 and the lower free end 16 of centering bolt 14. To prevent vibrations in the system and canting of centering strut 30, two upright bracing bolts 38 (adjustable with respect to height) having elastic support heads 39 are also attached to the latter. These are mutually positioned in such a manner offset relative to the line connecting the two swivel heads 31 with one another that the two support heads 39 and the two swivel heads 31 together form a rectangle (having point symmetry relative to the axis of centering bolt 34).

(12) Because horizontal sliding face 23 (with sliding-material strip 26 embedded at the same level) and sliding ramp 24 merge directly into one another, continuous bracing of joint cover 6 takes place on the respective bracing structure 14, at first in the displacement region and then in the lifting region, in the course of approach of the two building units 1 toward one another in the sense of a reduction of the clear width of expansion joint 5. Sliding ramp 24 is curved concavely on one portion and convexly on another portion. And, in fact, over a portion (progression curvature portion 40) adjacent to sliding-material strip 26, it is constructed in such a way with a steadily increasing slope that, during sliding contact of bulge 27 of rim profile 8 with sliding ramp 24, approach of building units 1 relative to one another (and consequently a reduction of the clear width of the joint gap of expansion joint 5) with acquired constant horizontal velocity leads to lifting of joint cover 6 in the region of the bracing structure 14 in question with steadily increasing vertical velocity. Progression curvature portion 40 is constructed here withaccording to the geometry of a clothoidsteadily changing curvature. Adjoining progression curvature portion 40 there is a degression curvature portion 41, on which sliding ramp 24 is constructed in such a way with a steadily decreasing slope that, during sliding contact of bulge 27 of rim profile 8 with sliding ramp 24 on its (convex) portion, approach of building units 1 relative to one another (and consequently a reduction of the clear width of the joint gap of expansion joint 5) with acquired constant horizontal velocity leads to lifting of joint cover 6 in the region of the bracing structure 14 in question with steadily decreasing vertical velocity.

(13) Although not illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a, sliding plate 17 and ramp profile 18 preferably engage in one another, in the region where they meet, preferably via finger-like or corrugated structures that are disposed at the rims and mesh with one another in comb-like manner. In this way the possibility is obtained of adapting, to the supporting substructure, the dimensions of the region that contains horizontal sliding faces 20 and 23 assembled together, whereindue to the comb-like meshing of the finger-like or corrugated structuresinterruption-free sliding of the sliding partner, i.e. of bulge 27, over the assembled horizontal sliding face is assured.

(14) Regarding the building structure illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 8, diverse technical viewpoints are obvious from the foregoing detailed explanations of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 1a. In this respect, reference is made to the said explanations, unless something to the contrary is indicated by the following descriptions.

(15) The building structure according to FIGS. 2 to 8 comprises a basic structural unit 42 and a building unit 1 bearing-mounted to be movable laterally relative thereto. Laterally of building unit 1, an expansion joint 5bridged by a walkable joint cover 6is present between it and basic structural unit 42. Joint cover 6 is braced via a first bracing structure 14 on building unit 1 and via a second bracing structure 14 on basic structural unit 42. This first bracing structure 14 is realized in the form of a fixed bearing 43, i.e. a bearing that does not permit any noteworthy horizontal displaceability. For this purpose, retaining bolts 46 extend upward from an anchor plate 45which is fixed via anchoring straps 44 on building unit 1. These are enclosed by retaining rings 47, which extend downward from joint cover 6. The annular space between retaining bolts 46 and associated retaining ring 47 is then filled respectively by a polymer bearing ring 48 (e.g. made of PA6), whichhaving low flexibility with respect to horizontal displacements of joint cover 6 and tilting of joint cover 6 due to lifting at the opposite end (see below)primarily functions to divert the vertical load from joint cover 6 into anchor plate 45.

(16) Second bracing structure 14 comprises a pairing of two sliding partners, namely one bracing sliding partner 15 associated in positionally fixed relationship with basic structural unit 42 and one braced sliding partner 16 associated in positionally fixed relationship with joint cover 6. Bracing sliding partner 15 comprises a bracing plate 49, which is flat on the top side and which is anchored on basic structural unit 42, laid-out sliding covering 50 and an approximately wedge-shaped ramp attachment 51, fixed on bracing plate 49 and forming a sliding ramp 24. The fixation of this bracing plate 49 on basic structural unit 42 is achieved via anchoring bolts 52 extending downward from it as well as via anchoring straps 53, which are welded onto bracing plate 49 andvia swing boards 54onto an anchor plate 55 protruding from this. A head plate 56, whichas a further bracing elementis in this respect likewise part of bracing sliding partner 15 provided with sliding ramp 24, is placed on top of anchor plate 55, and slides thereon as joint cover 6after corresponding transfer of the bracingduring certain operating conditions under seismic effect (see below).

(17) Braced sliding partner 16 comprises bracing humps 57, which are disposed on the underside of joint cover 6 and constructed, for example, as sliding cams made of polymer material or light metal, and which are designed for cooperating (sliding contact) with sliding covering 50 of bracing sliding partner 15, a chamfered profile rail 58 disposed in the rim region of joint cover 6 and stiffening plates 59, which brace covering support plate 60 of joint cover 6 and are profiled on their lower edge 61 in such a way that they merge free of discontinuities and edges into the obliquely neighboring sliding surface 62 of profile rail 58.

(18) A flexible seal 63constructed as an asymmetric hump-shaped sealcloses the gap between joint cover 6 and head plate 56. For this purpose, its two rims are clamped sealingly on one side between covering support plate 60 and profile rail 58 of joint cover 6 and on the other side between head plate 56 and a cleat 64 welded onto anchor plate 55.

(19) A service path, within which normal temperature-induced expansions and contractions of building unit 1 (and of joint cover 6) are compensated, also exists in this building structure, as in that according to FIGS. 1 and 1a. Within this service region, exclusively bracing of joint cover 6 on sliding covering 50 takes place in the region of second bracing structure 14 via bracing humps 57. The same is true in the case of a seismic event having an effect of enlarging the clear width of the joint gap of expansion joint 5. In contrast, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 8, the braced sliding partner 16, namely profile rail 58 and stiffening plate 59, slides on sliding ramp 24 during a movement, caused by a seismic event, of building unit 1 and basic structural unit 42 relative to one another with an effect of reducing the clear width of expansion joint 5. Thus a (sudden) transfer of the bracing of joint cover 6 on the bracing structure 14 in question takes place from the displacement region to the lifting region in the course of an approach of building unit 1 toward basic structural unit 42 in the sense of a reduction of the clear width of expansion joint 5. The sliding contact of braced sliding partner 16 on sliding ramp 24 that continues during the further reduction of the clear width of expansion joint 5 leads to lifting of joint cover 6 in the region of second bracing structure 14. Sliding ramp 24 is curved in one region, so that therein progression curvature portion 40it is constructed in such a way with a steadily increasing slope that, during sliding contact of braced sliding partner 16 on this portion of sliding ramp 24 (for example during the movement being completed between the situation according to FIG. 3 and the situation according to FIG. 4), an approach of building unit 1 toward basic structural unit 42 with acquired constant horizontal velocity leads to lifting of joint cover 6 in the region of the bracing structure 14 in question with steadily increasing vertical velocity.

(20) In a configuration such as illustrated in FIG. 5, the bracing of joint cover 6 changes to the effect that it is passed on to head plate 56 (or subsequently to covering 65 applied there). During continued movement, joint cover 6 rests slidingly on head plate 56 (which is chamfered at the rims) or on covering 65 applied there, at first (see FIG. 6) with profile rail 58, then (see FIG. 7) with stiffening plates 59 and finally (see FIG. 8) with the underside of joint cover 6. The geometrycooperating temporarily with sliding ramp 24of the braced sliding partner, i.e. the sequence of profile rail 58 and stiffening plates 59, forms a certain wedge-like shape. Due to the convex curvature of lower rim 61 of stiffening plate 59 with the consequence of a slope that increases steadily (in the direction of the displacement of the contact point toward the bracing sliding partner that takes place during lifting of joint cover 6), a degression curvature portion 41 is then obtained in the sense that, during sliding contact of stiffening plate 59 on (chamfered) head plate 56 (or on covering 65 applied there), an approach of building unit 1 and basic structural unit 42 relative to one another (and consequently a reduction of the clear width of expansion joint 5) with acquired constant horizontal velocity leads to lifting of joint cover 6 in the region of the bracing structure 14 in question with steadily decreasing vertical velocity.

(21) Finally, it can be inferred from the drawing that joint cover 6 is provided over its length with a supporting structural component 66 and a covering 67.

(22) By way of precautionto avoid misconceptionsit is to be pointed out that neither the conceptional difference (lifting of the joint cover on one side or on both sides) between the two illustrated exemplary embodiments nor the constructive details implemented therein are related to the fact that the joint cover in one case bridges an expansion joint present between a building unit and a basic structural unit and in the other case an expansion joint between two building units. In this respect, the viewpoints are interchangeable without further thought, as a person skilled in the art easily recognizes. The situation is analogous for joint covers that are liftable on only one side and that bridge an expansion joint present between a building unit and a basic structural unit, the liftable side can be assigned to the building unit or else to the basic structural unit.