Ring beam and method for constructing the same

Abstract

A ring beam element, a ring beam and a method of constructing a ring beam from a plurality of ring beam elements is disclosed. The ring beam can support a shell or wall of a tank. The ring beam element comprises a reinforced concrete body, preferably having a metal base plate anchored therein, and a plurality of tensile conduits extending circumferentially there through. Ideally, the reinforced concrete body will have interlocking surfaces such that the ring beam elements interlock with one another when circumferentially juxtaposed. Tensile members can be placed through the plurality of tensile conduits and tensioned and anchored by anchors to clamp a plurality of juxtaposed ring beam elements together. Ideally, the base plates of a plurality of the ring beam elements can be connected or welded together to form an annular ring of base plates. The ring beam elements can be mounted upon piles to provide level surfaces to the base plates so that the metal base plates can be readily connected together to form an annular ring beam.

1 . A method for constructing a ring beam comprising:
 (a) providing a plurality of ring beam elements, at least two of the ring beam elements each including a reinforced concrete body having at least one circumferentially extending tensile conduit disposed within the concrete body;   (b) juxtaposing ring beam elements to form a circumferentially extending series of ring beam elements;   (c) placing at least one tensile member through tensile conduits of the juxtaposed ring beam elements; and   (d) tensioning and anchoring the at least one tensile member about the ring beam elements to clamp together the series of ring beam elements in a circumferential direction to form a ring beam.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements each have a base plate anchored to the concrete body; and   the base plates are welded to one another to form an annular ring of base plates.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements each contain a plurality of tension conduits disposed within the concrete bodies;   a plurality of tensile members are inserted through the tensile conduits of the at least two ring beam elements; and   the tensile members are tensioned and anchored about the ring beam elements to clamp together the series of ring beam elements.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein:
 the tensile conduits in the at least two ring beam elements are located on opposite sides of the horizontal central plane of the concrete body.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements further include interlocking surfaces such that when the at least two ring beam elements are juxtaposed one another, the interlocking surfaces interlock with one another.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements interlock in the horizontal direction.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements interlock in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements interlock in both the horizontal and vertical directions.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements each have liner plates; and   the liner plates are welded to one another to form an annular ring of liner plates.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements are mounted on piles driven into the earth.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2  wherein:
 the piles have mounting surfaces which are adjusted to provide a level surface for mounting the at least two ring beam elements on the piles such that the base plates can be readily welded to one another.   
     
     
         12 . An annular ring beam comprising:
 at least two ring beam elements each including a concrete body having at least one circumferentially extending tensile conduit disposed within the concrete body; and   at least one tensile member which extends through the tensile conduits of the at least two ring beam elements and which is tensioned and anchored to clamp the at least two ring beam elements together.   
     
     
         13 . The annular beam ring of  claim 12  wherein:
 each of the at least two beam ring elements has a metal base plate; and   the metal base plates are connected together to form an annular ring of base plates.   
     
     
         14 . The annular beam ring of  claim 12  wherein:
 each of the beam ring elements has a metal base plate; and   the metal base plates are welded together to form an annular ring of base plates.   
     
     
         15 . The annular ring beam of  claim 12  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements each contain a plurality of tensile conduits disposed within the concrete bodies;   a plurality of tensile members extend through the tensile conduits of the at least two ring beam elements; and   the tensile members are tensioned and anchored about the ring beam elements clamping together the at least two ring beam elements.   
     
     
         16 . The annular ring beam of  claim 12  wherein:
 the tensile conduits in the at least two ring beam elements are located on opposite sides of the horizontal central plane of the concrete body.   
     
     
         17 . The annular ring beam of  claim 12  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements further include interlocking surfaces that interlock with one another.   
     
     
         18 . The annular ring beam of  claim 17  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements interlock in the horizontal direction.   
     
     
         19 . The annular ring beam of  claim 17  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements interlock in the vertical direction.   
     
     
         20 . The annular ring beam of  claim 17  wherein:
 the at least two ring beam elements interlock in both the horizontal and vertical directions.   
     
     
         21 . A ring beam element comprising:
 a reinforced concrete body having a metal base plate anchored thereto, the concrete body having a plurality tensile conduits extending circumferentially there through;   wherein tensile members can be placed through the plurality of tensile conduits and tensioned and anchored to clamp a plurality of juxtaposed ring beam elements together such that base plates of a plurality of the ring beam elements can be welded together and a circumferentially extending ring beam constructed.   
     
     
         22 . The ring beam element of  claim 21  wherein:
 the ring beam element has interlocking surfaces adapted to allow ring beam elements to be circumferentially aligned and interlocked.