Articulated concrete joint member

Abstract

An articulated concrete joint member ( 1 ) including a resilient core ( 2 ), the core ( 2 ) having connections means ( 3 ) attached thereto, the connection means ( 3 ) adapted to link two co-planar concrete slabs ( 5, 6 ) along an adjacent peripheral edge of each slab, wherein on application of an out-of-plane displacement to one of the co-planar concrete slabs ( 5, 6 ) the displacement is transmitted to the other slab through pivoting about the articulated joint member ( 1 ). In one embodiment, the articulated concrete joint member ( 1 ), which further includes crack propagation means ( 4 ), is fully immersed in the concrete slab so that the slab is subjected to extraneous loads, the slab cracks along predetermined lines of weakness ( 7 ).

The claims defining the invention are as follows:  
     
         1 . An articulation member including a resilient core, said core having connection means attached thereto, the connection means adapted to link two co-planar concrete slabs along an adjacent peripheral edge of each slab, wherein on application of an out-of-plane displacement to one of the co-planar concrete slabs, the displacement is transmitted to the other concrete slab through pivoting about the articulation member.  
     
     
         2 . The articulation member according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the resilient core material includes rubber.  
     
     
         3 . The articulation member according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the resilient core material includes recycled rubber crumb.  
     
     
         4 . The articulation member according to claims  2  or  3 , wherein the connecting means, at least partially, is made from rubber.  
     
     
         5 . The articulation member according to any one of  claims 1  to  3 , wherein the connection means, at least partially, is made from a non-resilient material.  
     
     
         6 . The articulation member according to  claim 5 , wherein the non-resilient material includes a metallic portion.  
     
     
         7 . The articulation member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting means is integral with the resilient core.  
     
     
         8 . The articulation member according to any one of  claims 1  to  6 , wherein the connecting means are mountable on the resilient core.  
     
     
         9 . The articulation member according to claims  5  or  6 , wherein the connecting means are metallic spikes passing through the resilient core.  
     
     
         10 . The articulation member according to claims  5 ,  6  or  9 , wherein the connecting means have a cog-type profile at terminal ends of said connecting means distal from the resilient core.  
     
     
         11 . The articulation member according to any one of  claims 1  to  5 , wherein the connecting means includes an adhesive surface adapted to adhere to the peripheral edges of adjacent slabs.  
     
     
         12 . The articulation member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the concrete slabs are pavement slabs for foot traffic.  
     
     
         13 . The articulation member according to any one of  claims 1  to  11 , wherein the concrete slabs are decking slabs for a bridge.  
     
     
         14 . The articulation member according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the articulation member further includes crack propagation means.  
     
     
         15 . The articulation member according to  claim 14 , wherein the crack propagation means includes at least one projection directed towards a top surface of the slab.  
     
     
         16 . The articulation member according to  claim 15 , wherein the crack propagation means further includes at least one projection directed towards a bottom surface of the slab.  
     
     
         17 . The articulation member according to any one of  claims 1  to  13 , wherein the articulation member further includes separation means for providing a barrier between adjacent slabs.  
     
     
         18 . The articulation member according to  claim 17 , wherein the separation means are at least two projections emanating from the resilient core, and extending to or beyond an upper and lower surface of the slabs.  
     
     
         19 . The articulation member according to  claim 17  or  18 , wherein a cross-sectional shape of the articulation member is substantially cross-shaped with the connecting means directed in a horizontal plane, and the separation means directed in a vertical plane.  
     
     
         20 . The articulation member according to  claim 19 , wherein the separation means and connecting means intersect at the respective mid-points of the separation means and connecting means.  
     
     
         21 . A method of constructing an assembly of articulated slabs, the method including the steps of: 
 (i) establishing form-work adapted to receive wet concrete;    (ii) placing a plurality of articulation members along a plurality of articulation lines;    (iii) pouring of wet concrete within the form-work so as to engage the articulation members;    (iv) curing of the concrete to form a plurality of adjacent slab units connected by the articulation members.    
     
     
         22 . The method of constructing a concrete slab according to  claim 21 , wherein said articulation member is the articulation member according to any one of  claims 1  to  20 .  
     
     
         23 . The method of constructing a concrete slab according to  claim 21  or  22 , wherein step (ii) further includes placement of support means, said support means adapted to engage, at least one, articulation member during the pouring step.  
     
     
         24 . The method of constructing a concrete slab according to  claim 23 , wherein the support means includes an assembly of members adapted to connect directly to the form-work so as to engage the, at least one articulation member so that the articulation member is maintained in a desired configuration and position during the pouring step.  
     
     
         25 . The method of constructing a concrete slab according to  claim 23  wherein the support means engages the at least one articulation member by encompassing an upper portion of the separation means and engaging the connection means so as to prevent uplift of the articulation member.  
     
     
         26 . A concrete slab, including a plurality of lines of weakness and a plurality of articulation members placed along said line of weakness wherein said slab is adapted to crack along the lines of weakness, resulting in slab portions that are articulated through connection with the articulation members.  
     
     
         27 . The concrete slab according to  claim 26 , wherein the articulation member is the articulation member according to any one of  claims 1  to  20 .