Transmitter, system, formwork element, method for transmitting data and method for predicting stress on a formwork element

Abstract

A transmitter for predicting stress on a formwork element during and/or after pouring a building material, in particular concrete, into a space enclosed by a formwork including the formwork element, the formwork element comprising a form face and a support structure which is attached to the form face and supporting the form face, wherein the form face is separated from or integrated into the support structure, the system comprising data acquisition means, at least one sensor unit, a control unit and a transmission unit.

1 . A transmitter for predicting stress on a formwork element during and/or after pouring a building material into a space enclosed by a formwork including the formwork element, the formwork element comprising a form face and a support structure which is attached to the form face and supporting the form face, wherein the form face is separated from or integrated into the support structure, the transmitter comprising:
 the formwork element; and   a data acquisition assembly comprising at least one sensor unit configured to acquire data in relation to the stress exerted on the formwork element by the building material, a control unit configured to control the at least one sensor unit and/or to process the acquired data, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the acquired data to a device located outside the formwork element, wherein the control unit and the transmission unit are arranged within the support structure, and wherein the at least one sensor unit is arranged at least partially within the support structure.   
     
     
         2 . A system for predicting stress on a formwork element during and/or after pouring a building material into a space enclosed by a formwork including the formwork element, comprising the transmitter of  claim 1  and the device configured to receive the acquired data. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the device is configured to analyze the data received from the data acquisition means and to display an analysis result to a user via a graphical user interface, and wherein the device is further configured to provide instructions to the user for handling a pouring process. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the transmission unit is configured to continuously transmit data to the device in duplex communication, and wherein the data is transferable by cable or wirelessly. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the device is configured to perform an analysis of the stress on the formwork element during and/or after pouring the building material using the data received from the data acquisition means and data of previous building material pours monitored by the system. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising a data storage unit configured to store the acquired data, and a data interface configured to connect to a further system for designing formwork structures. 
     
     
         7 . A formwork element for use in a formwork, comprising a form face and a support structure which is attached to the form face and supporting the form face, wherein the form face is separated from or integrated into the support structure, the formwork element comprising a data acquisition assembly comprising at least one sensor unit configured to acquire data in relation to the stress exerted on the formwork element by the building material, a control unit configured to control the at least one sensor unit and/or to process the acquired data, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the acquired data to a device located outside the formwork element, wherein the control unit and the transmission unit are arranged within the support structure, and wherein the at least one sensor unit is arranged at least partially within the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The formwork element of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor unit extends through an opening formed in the support structure, the sensor unit comprising a pressure transducer holding body, a pressure chamber, a pressure transducer arranged at least partially within the pressure transducer holding body and inserted at least partially into or being arranged adjacent to the pressure chamber at a first axial end portion of the pressure chamber and a membrane covering an opening of the pressure chamber at a second axial end portion of the pressure chamber, wherein the pressure chamber contains a hydraulic fluid and is configured to contact the building material and to perform continuous measurement of lateral pressure on the form face of the formwork element. 
     
     
         9 . The formwork element of  claim 8 , wherein the pressure chamber is axially adjustable in position through an opening formed in a base plate of the sensor unit, wherein the sensor unit comprises fixing means configured to lock and unlock the pressure chamber relative to the base plate. 
     
     
         10 . The formwork element of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor unit is formed by a deflection sensor configured to perform continuous measurement of a deflection of the form face of the formwork element. 
     
     
         11 . The formwork element of  claim 10 , wherein the deflection sensor comprises a push rod extending through an opening formed in the support structure adjacent to the form face of the formwork element, the push rod abutting the form face, wherein the push rod is pre-loaded against the form face by a first spring element. 
     
     
         12 . The formwork element of  claim 11 , wherein the deflection sensor further comprises a magnet lever connected to the push rod at a first end portion of the magnet lever, wherein the magnet lever at its second end portion comprises a first permanent magnet and a second permanent magnet, wherein a hall effect sensor is arranged between the first permanent magnet and the second permanent magnet of the magnet lever, wherein the magnet lever is adapted to move upon movement of the push rod, and wherein the hall effect sensor is configured to detect a movement of the magnet lever. 
     
     
         13 . The formwork element of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor unit is formed by a strain gauge configured to measure a load on a tie rod arranged between the formwork element and an adjacent formwork element using compression strain gauge load cells integrated in a tie rod assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The formwork element of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor unit is formed by a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the building material, wherein the temperature sensor forms contact with the building material or is integrated in the pressure sensor unit, and/or a sound sensor configured to detect formwork movements using an electrostatic capacitor-based microphone attached to the form face. 
     
     
         15 . A method for transmitting data for predicting stress on a formwork element during and/or after pouring a building material into a space enclosed by a formwork including the formwork element, the formwork element comprising a form face and a support structure which is attached to the form face and supporting the form face, wherein the form face is separated from or integrated into the support structure, the method comprising the steps of:
 acquiring data in relation to the stress exerted on the formwork element by the building material by at least one sensor unit of a data acquisition assembly;   controlling the at least one sensor unit by a control unit and/or processing the acquired data, wherein the control unit and the transmission unit are arranged within the support structure, and the at least one sensor unit is arranged at least partially within the support structure; and   transmitting the acquired data to a device located outside the formwork element by a transmission unit.   
     
     
         16 . A method for predicting stress on a formwork element during and/or after pouring a building material into a space enclosed by a formwork including the formwork element, the method comprising the method for transmitting data for predicting stress on a formwork element of  claim 14 , and further comprising:
 receiving the acquired data by means of the device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of measuring the stress exerted on the formwork at various positions in the formwork by a plurality of sensor units. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the device is configured to perform an analysis of the stress on the formwork element during and/or after pouring the building material using the data received from the data acquisition assembly and data of previous building material pours monitored by the system.