DRIVABLE BUILDING STRUCTURE

Abstract

A drivable building structure is provided including a first partial construction and a second partial construction movable relative to the first. The first partial construction has a first substructure and a first roadway structure which forms a first drivable surface, and the second partial construction has a second substructure and a second roadway structure which forms a second drivable surface. An expansion joint is between the first substructure and the second. A bridging structure extends between the first roadway structure and the second. The bridging structure spans the expansion joint and has a support plate and an expansion body. The expansion body is supported by the support plate, is cast on site from casting compound, and forms a drivable surface. The expansion body casting compound is polymer-based. The expansion body has a multi-layer structure produced in successive casting operations, and at least two of the layers have different compositions.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a drivable building structure having a first partial building structure and a second partial building structure drivable relative thereto. Therein the first partial building structure comprises a first substructure and a first roadway construction forming a first drivable surface and the second partial building structure comprises a second substructure and a second roadway construction forming a second drivable surface. An expansion joint is provided between the first substructure and the second substructure (the respective substructure may also be called a “load-bearing system”), wherein a bridging structure spanning the expansion joint and having a bracing plate and an expansion body braced thereby, cast in place from casting compound and forming a drivable surface extends between the first roadway construction and the second roadway construction.

BACKGROUND

Drivable building structures in the foregoing sense include bridges or comparable building structures, but especially also access ways or approaches to (earthquake-resistant) buildings as well as traffic routes between building parts of a building complex (e.g. airports, railroad stations and the like). In this respect, the terms “drivability” and “roadway” within the meaning of the present disclosure are not necessarily to be understood as drivability with motor vehicles, especially with heavy trucks; to the contrary, they also include lightly loaded applications that can be driven or walked on only with light vehicles (bicycles, pedal scooters or the like), including footpaths. In the case of an (earthquake-resistant) building access way or an (earthquake-resistant) building approach, the first partial building structure may be designed as a structure rigidly connected to the foundation ground and the second partial building structure as a building part seismically decoupled relative to the foundation ground. In the case of a bridge, on the other hand, the first partial building structure may be designed as an abutment and the second partial building structure as the superstructure of the bridge.

By means of bracing plate and expansion body, this bridging structure bridges over the expansion joint, which can vary in its dimension (e.g. due to thermal expansion and/or seismic activity and/or shrinkage or creep phenomena), and in this way makes it possible to drive over the expansion joint on a continuous surface. Such bridging structures having a bracing plate and an expansion body braced thereby, cast in place from casting compound and forming a drivable surface or such drivable building structures in the foregoing sense are known from the prior art—at this place, EP 2 483 477 B1 and CH 691 496 A5 can be cited as examples. What is referred to as the working direction of an expansion joint in this connection is a direction in which the dimension of the expansion joint (expansion joint width) varies according to the intended use. The working range of such a bridging structure is limited by the minimum extent of the expansion joint in working direction (at maximum permissible contraction of the expansion body) on the one hand and the maximum extension of the expansion joint in working direction (at maximum permissible expansion of the expansion body) on the other hand. Depending on design of the building structure and on the individual requirements, further relative movements of the two partial building structures relative to one another are not excluded, namely transverse and/or vertical shifts.

An object underlying the present disclosure is to provide a drivable building structure of the type described in the introduction, which is distinguished by improved practical utility compared with the prior art, especially with respect to low manufacturing, installation and maintenance costs and by special aptitude for cost-efficient and rapid rehabilitation of an existing bridging structure.

SUMMARY

This object is achieved in that the casting compound of the expansion body in a drivable building structure of the type described in the introduction is polymer-based, in that the expansion body has a multi-layered construction generated in several casting processes performed in succession and in that at least two of the layers of the expansion body have compositions differing from one another. In synergistic interaction with one another as well as with the further characteristics properties of the disclosed building structure, these special features achieve a previously unknown practical utility.

Whereas the expansion body in bridging structures widely used heretofore in connection with generic building structures consists of bitumen, the casting compound of the expansion body in implementations of the present invention has a polymer base, which in particular—in an especially preferred configuration of the invention—may be formed by PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate), by PU (polyurethane) and/or by polyurea, and to which aggregates may optionally be added. As an example, such an aggregate may contain especially fillers, which comprise hard particles (e.g. corundum) and/or rubber granules (e.g. EPDM (ethylene-propylene diene monomer) granules). The expansion body has several layers, wherein the compositions of at least two layers of the expansion body (or the compositions of the associated casting compounds of the expansion body) differ from one another in this case, especially with respect to the polymer base used and/or to the aggregates used. In this way, the material properties of the expansion body can be adapted in layer-specific manner by layer-specific selection of the composition of the casting compounds of the expansion body.

The individual layers of this expansion body are each created in a separate casting process, in that castable casting compounds of the expansion body are cast in place, i.e. “set” or “cured” in situ on the building site and in the desired shape—wherein, with respect to the contractability/expandability of the finished expansion body in accordance with the intended use, “setting” or “curing” is to be understood in the sense of relative hardening compared with the condition of the casting compound during processing (castable consistency!). For this purpose, two successive casting processes are performed in timed manner such that the expansion-body layer produced in the preceding casting process respectively “cures” before it is covered in the course of a subsequent casting process by the next, adjoining expansion-body layer, meaning in particular that it is able to cross-link and/or polymerize sufficiently that commingling of the layers is prevented, i.e. that no intermixing takes place at the layer interface.

In the synergetic interplay with the other disclosed features, it is possible, due to the layered construction, composed of layers of different types, of the polymer-based expansion body, to ensure that a particularly long-lasting and highly loadable bridging structure can be achieved particularly rapidly, simply and favorably.

The larger surface-to-volume ratio-compared with the complete expansion body—of the individual expansion-body layers of the expansion body cast in several casting processes may then influence the reaction time very positively, especially in the case of an exothermally reacting polymer base. In this way, i.e. as a consequence of the accelerated curing/polymerization, the achieved bridging structure or the associated drivable building structure can be dedicated to use or traffic more rapidly, which may represent a very great advantage, especially in the case of rehabilitation or repair operations-which are often accompanied by sensitive impairments of use of the building structure and considerable disruptions of traffic.

Furthermore, the larger surface-to-volume ratio of the individual layers of the expansion body and the efficient and rapid heat removal associated therewith permit the use even of casting compounds that heretofore were not suitable-because of their strongly exothermal curing characteristic—for expansion bodies in the application under discussion here, especially because the exothermal heat development during curing, in combination with relatively poor heat removal, would have led to heat damage in the building structure or would have been accompanied by unacceptably long cooling and curing times. Analogous reasoning applies for certain aggregates, which become denatured or undergo other detrimental changes of their properties in case of excessive and/or prolonged exposure to heat. In this respect, embodiments of the present invention also result in higher flexibility and an expanded spectrum of material pairings between base polymer/aggregate, which in turn permits optimum adaptation of the (multi-layer) expansion body to the individual requirements of the respective specific application.

In the sense of the foregoing explanation, specifically the use of PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate) as the polymer base is possible for the casting compound of the expansion body. However, it is not the plastic known in general parlance as “acrylic glass” that is used for this purpose, but to the contrary a PMMA having modified properties, namely a much higher elasticity (so-called “elastic PMMA”). The corresponding modification may then be achieved in a manner known as such, typically via suitable copolymers, wherein 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, for example, can impart elasticity-enhancing effects. Elastic PMMA-which includes all of the following lists concerning the use of PMMA as the base polymer for the expansion body- or PMMA-based polymer systems for the manufacture of highly elastic structures are already subject matter in the patent literature and are also available—as PMMA systems for the manufacture of nonwoven-reinforced coatings—in the relevant market (for example, see the 2-component PMMA liquid plastic “BauderLIQUITEC PMMA Universal” from the portfolio of Paul Bauder GmbH & Co.KG, Stuttgart or the 2-component PMMA sealing resin “ALSAN 770” from the portfolio of Soprema GmbH, Mannheim).

Expansion bodies with significantly improved expansion and contraction properties (compared with PU) can be obtained through the use of PMMA as the base polymer. For the same dimensioning in working direction (width of the expansion body), a PMMA expansion body is able, as it has been possible to determine, to compensate in particular for greater length variations than with an (equally wide) PU expansion body, without suffering damage during long-term applications. Or stated otherwise: A particular, predetermined working range can be achieved during use of a PMMA polymer base for the expansion body with a narrower expansion body than during use of a PU polymer base. In view of the considerable fraction of the total costs of the bridging structure represented by the polymer material, this leads to a noteworthy cost advantage compared with the prior art.

It proves to be particularly favorable when PMMA forms the polymer base of the polymer-based casting compound of the expansion body for all layers of the expansion body. According to a another advantageous further development, this expansion body has, in every one of its layers, an elongation after break (mean value!) of at least 100%, particularly preferably at least 120%, wherein the elongation after break is determined according to EN ISO 527-2 (1B) on non-aged specimens without other conditioning and a specimen temperature of 23° C.

Since, as explained, more compact and less wide bridging structures than in the prior art can be obtained using PMMA as the polymer base of the expansion body, then in a rehabilitation project, in which a defective-corresponding to the prior art-bridging structure is replaced by a new structure, typically a base structure (especially consisting of polymer concrete) having a portion that has a drivable surface and in the finished building structure is able to extend between roadway construction of the partial building structure in question and the expansion body is applied, at least for one of the two partial building structures, on the substructure in question. The smaller width of the bridging apparatus to be newly constructed can then be simply compensated by the base structure provided with a drivable surface. The base structure is described more extensively below, especially with respect to further preferred details.

In implementation of the present invention, the properties of the expansion body and its operating behavior over long periods can be configured so positively that, in typical application situations, it is possible to dispense with stabilizers, embedded in the expansion body and extending beyond the expansion joint, as are regularly provided according to the prior art (e.g. in the form of coil springs cast into the expansion body). Compared with the prior art, this leads not only to cost advantages but especially also to even easier and faster installation of the bridging structure with correspondingly positive effects, specifically for rehabilitation situations (less disruption of traffic).

According to a first preferred configuration of the invention, the casting compounds of the layers of the expansion body having different compositions are filled with different aggregates, wherein, particularly preferably, the casting compounds (of the layers of the expansion body having different compositions) are provided with a matching polymer base. Due to the common polymer base, particularly good adhesion of the layers of the expansion body to one another can be achieved while simultaneously attaining layer-specific material/operating properties due to layer-specific aggregates.

Quite particularly preferably, an aggregate of the uppermost layer of the expansion body forming the drivable surface is provided with harder fillers than is an aggregate of a deeper layer of the expansion body. Thus the uppermost expansion-body layer forming the drivable surface can be designed to have particularly good abrasion resistance and traction, whereas the deeper layers of the expansion body have particularly good expansion and compression properties. In this connection, the fillers of the uppermost layer of the expansion body may comprise in particular hard particles (e.g. corundum).

Preferably, the uppermost layer of the expansion body consists at least up to 80 percent by weight (wt %), especially of up to 95% percent by weight of polymer and hard particles (in total), since in this way—with good expandability and contractability of the expansion-body layer in question and thus very low tendency to crack formation—a quite particularly abrasion-resistant and traction-imparting surface can be achieved. In particular, the ratio by weight of hard particles to polymer is then between 0.75 and 0.95, preferably between 0.8 and 0.9.

According to a further preferred configuration of the inventive building structure, the fillers of the aggregates of a deeper layer of the expansion body comprise EPDM granules and/or rubber granules. Such a deeper layer of the expansion body advantageously consists at least up to 80 wt %, particularly preferably at least up to 95 wt % of polymer and EPDM or rubber granules (in total), wherein the ratio by weight of EPDM or rubber granules to polymer lies in particular between 0.15 and 0.35, particularly preferably between 0.2 and 0.3.

Furthermore, it can be provided in the context of yet another preferred configuration of the invention that the bridging structure has two base structures (already mentioned hereinabove) connected with the substructure of the respective partial building structure, wherein the bracing plate is received between portions of the two base structures respectively forming a frame. Thus the bracing plate can be embedded in the frames of the base structures. Especially when—in particularly advantageous manner—the upper edges of the frames are substantially at the same level as the surface of the bracing plate, an expansion body with an (at least approximately) continuously level underside and accordingly a largely equal height over the entire extent can therefore be obtained. The accompanying absence of projecting edges and set-back recesses or other geometric irregularities on the underside of the expansion body favors a homogeneous stress distribution without stress peaks and notch effects and thus contributes to long-term stability and long useful life of the bridging structure and to very good operating behavior.

Furthermore, the base structures can be advantageously designed with stepped configuration such that they have support portions extending under the bracing plate. Thus the base structure are able to function simultaneously both as frames for the bracing plate and as bracings (i.e. for transfer of vertical loads). By means of those support portions for the bracing plate, the base structures bring about largely equalized load transfer, which-due to the reduction of load and stress peaks-benefits the lifetime of the bridging structure. Advantageously, these base structures consist of polymer concrete, particularly preferably of a PMMA-based polymer concrete (e.g. ROBO® DUR 42 of Mageba SA, Bülach, Switzerland). This is because their characteristic material properties favor the function explained in the foregoing.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, retaining means for the expansion body are mounted on the respective substructure (or on the base structure placed thereon) in order to support the fixation of the expansion body at its rims. Such retaining means may also serve additionally if applicable for binding of stabilizers embedded in the expansion body. Such stabilizers (or reinforcements) may comprise, for example, telescoping tubes, which-fixed at their ends on angled rails forming the said retaining means—are each preferably surrounded by a spiral flexible tube and/or are held in prestress by means of internal coil springs loaded in compression.

A further advantageous configuration of the inventive drivable building structure can be characterized in that the base structures are provided respectively with an adhesive face-oriented substantially parallel to the working direction of the expansion joint, i.e. typically horizontally—for the expansion body. Thus adhesion of the expansion body to the respective base structure can be achieved in the region of the adhesive face and also maintained during contraction or expansion of the expansion body. Even during deformations of the expansion body, no relative movement between expansion body and base structure takes place in the region of the adhesive faces. Ingress of dirt and water between expansion body and base structure (and thus further to the bracing plate) can be minimized in this way. If the adhesive faces are further disposed in those regions of the expansion body that are close to the rims, where these adjoin the roadway construction, it is possible in this way-regardless of the deformation status of the expansion body—to counteract excessive separation of the transition between roadway constructions and expansion body when the expansion body is expanded. Furthermore, it may be provided that a seal present between the substructure and the roadway construction of a partial building structure extends under the associated base structure.

The corresponding overlap of base structure (especially consisting of polymer concrete) and seal counteracts seeping of moisture under the base structure.

According to a further advantageous configuration of the invention, it may be provided that a bracing plate is provided that is not divided in working direction of the expansion joint, wherein a highly compressible filler strip extends along at least one end side-relative to the working direction of the expansion joint—of the bracing plate. Especially in application situations in which the bridging structure has to provide only a relatively small working range, it is possible in this way to achieve a simple and cost-effective drivable building structure according to the disclosure. In specific installation situations, it may be particularly advantageous for the bracing plate to be fixed to the substructure of one of the two partial building structures.

Alternatively, it may be provided that the bracing plate is designed in divided manner in working direction of the expansion joint and has two bracing-plate portions fixed respectively to the substructure of one of the two partial building structures. What is regarded as the “bracing-plate portion” in this sense—in the case of a bracing plate divided asymmetrically in such a way that only one of the two parts spans the expansion joint—is not only just that part spanning the expansion joint but also the other part. Particularly advantageously, the two fixed bracing-plate portions may then be designed to mesh into one another in toothed manner, whereby a gap of corrugated shape is formed between the two bracing-plate portions. It has been shown that such a gap of corrugated shape substantially further improves the drive-over characteristic and durability of the bridging structure compared with a linear gap, since the danger that the expansion body-deformable according to intended use-will be “forced into” or “churned into” the gap while heavy vehicles are driving over the bridging structure can be significantly reduced in this way.

Especially when a larger working range has to be covered by the bridging apparatus, it may be provided alternatively that a third, free bracing-plate portion is received between the two fixed bracing-plate portions and on both sides is meshed in toothed manner with the respective adjoining fixed bracing-plate portion, especially in the foregoing sense. By such a three-piece design of the bracing plate, the number of gaps between the bracing plate portions is increased—in comparison to the two-piece design—from 1 to 2, whereby the specific gap width can be halved. This smaller gap width has advantages with respect to the drivability characteristic and durability of the bridging structure. The advantages explained above of the gap of corrugated shape also apply here.

According to another advantageous configuration of the invention, support bodies cast in place on the respective substructure may be present underneath the bracing plate. Such support bodies may be designed in particular as compensating layers cast from polyurethane, whereby the support bodies in question acquire an advantageous shock-absorbing characteristic. Support bodies of the said type may be joined with advantages in terms of equalized load transfer when base structures (cast in place, especially from polymer concrete) of the type explained hereinabove (with lateral frames and countersunk support portions for the bracing plate) are not provided.

In order to prevent adhesion of the expansion body to the bracing plate, it may further be provided that a separating course designed in particular as an elastomer web (e.g. as EPDM film) is situated between the bracing plate and the expansion body. The ability of the expansion body to slide freely and with a little friction as possible on the bracing plate favors uniform deformation of the expansion body for compensation of a change of expansion-joint width. It is sufficient in this respect when the EPDM film fulfills the separating function during casting of the lowermost layer of the expansion body. The separation between expansion body and bracing plate is still preserved even when the EPDM film becomes gradually detached in the course of use of the bridging structure. This may even be favorable, in that the resulting EPDM powder acts to reduce friction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the following, three exemplary embodiments of the invention, in each of which the drivable building structure may comprise, for example, a bridging structure and an abutment, will be explained in more detail on the basis of the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows, in vertical section, the region relevant here of a drivable building structure according to a first exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 2 shows, likewise in vertical section, the region relevant here of a drivable building structure according to a second exemplary embodiment,

FIG. 3 shows, again in vertical section, the region relevant here of a drivable building structure according to a third exemplary embodiment and

FIG. 4 shows a horizontal section through the third exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The first exemplary embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 1, of a generic drivable building structure 1 comprises two partial building structures 2, namely a first partial building structure 2.1 and a second partial building structure 2.2. Each of these two partial building structures has a substructure 3 and a roadway construction 4, which forms a drivable surface 5. Conventionally, a seal 6 is then provided between the respective substructure 3 and the associated roadway construction 4.

The two partial building structures 2.1 and 2.2 are decoupled from one another in the sense that they are movable relative to one another. The movability-typically uniaxial or biaxial but possibly also triaxial—of the two partial building structures 2.1 and 2.2 relative to one another is derived in this case from the respective individual bearing system of the building structures. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, uniaxial movability definable via working direction A exists. In order to enable this, an expansion joint 7 extending transverse to working direction A is present between substructure 3.1 of first partial building structure 2.1 and substructure 3.2 of second partial building structure 2.2.

In order to ensure drivability, a bridging structure 9 spanning expansion joint 7, forming a drivable surface 8 and having an extension body 10, which is deformable, namely extendable and contractable in working direction A from a stress-free neutral configuration, extends between roadway construction 4.1 of first partial building structure 2.1 and roadway construction 4.2 of second partial building structure 2.2. Expansion body 10 and the further components of bridging structure 9 are in this case received in a “trough”, which is bounded by end sides 11 of first roadway construction 4.1 and of second roadway construction 4.2 and the surfaces 12—projecting from these toward the middle plane M—of first substructure 3.1 and second substructure 3.2.

Underneath the actual bridging structure 9, a base structure 13 made of polymer concrete is applied on the respective substructure 3 of each of the two partial building structures 2.1 and 2.2. The expansion joint present between first substructure 2.1 and second substructure 2.2 continues upward in this case between first base structure 13.1 and second base structure 13.2. These two substructures 13 are configured in stepped form, such that they each have a recessed portion 14 close to middle plane M and a raised portion 15 spaced apart from middle plane M. These two raised portions 15 form frames 16 for, received between them, a bracing plate 17 which-via interposed EPDM films F-rests on recessed portions 14 of the two base structures 13; in this sense, recessed portions 14 of the two base structures 13 represent “support portions”. Surfaces 18 of these frames 16 are substantially at the same level as surface 19 of bracing plate 17.

In the neutral configuration illustrated in FIG. 1, bracing plate 17 does not completely fill the space present between frames 16. To the contrary, a gap 20, in which a highly compressible filling strip 21 (e.g. of microcellular rubber tape) has been inserted, is present on both sides between each end side of bracing plate 17 and the associated frame 16. Bracing plate 17 is therefore seated movably and accordingly floatingly relative to both partial building structures 2.1 and 2.2 in working direction A of expansion joint 7.

In each of the two partial building structures 2.1 and 2.2, an angled perforated strip is securely connected—by means of the respective base structure 13 in the region of anchor 22 passed through the raised portions 15 in question—with the associated substructure 3.1 or 3.2. The respective horizontal leg 25—provided with openings 24—is in this case braced in the region between its fastenings via spacer plates 26 on surface 18 of raised portion 15 of the base structure 13 in question, so that angled perforated strips 23 are raised relative to surface 18 of the associated base structure 13. Vertical legs 27 of angled perforated strips 23, which respectively maintain a spacing relative to end face 11 of the associated roadway construction 4, also have openings 28. Bracing plate 17 as well as the two filler strips 21 are covered on their upper side-facing expansion body 10—by a separating course 29 in the form of a (preferably self-adhering) EPDM film 30.

Expansion body 10 fills the space remaining above surface 19 of bracing plate 17 (plus separating course 29) and surfaces 18 of base structures 13 between end sides 11 of first roadway construction 4.1 and second roadway construction 4.2. It is cast in place in situ from polymer-based casting compound, and specifically in three separate layers 31, 32 and 33, which are each approximately 2 cm thick. In the present case, PMMA is used in corresponding manner as the base polymer for all three layers 31, 32 and 33. However, the PMMA-based casting compounds of uppermost layer 33—forming the drivable surface 18 of bridging structure 9—of the expansion body and of the two deeper layers 31 and 32 of the expansion body differ from one another in that they contain different aggregates Z. As it happens, aggregate Z of the casting compound of the uppermost layer 33 of the expansion body comprises harder fillers than the aggregate of the casting compound of the deeper layers 31 and 32 of the expansion body, in that the fillers in the uppermost layer 33 of the expansion body contain hard particles (e.g. corundum), compared with EPDM granules and/or rubber granules in the two lower layers 31 and 32 of the expansion body. The uppermost layer 33 of expansion body 10 consists in this case up to approximately 98 wt % of PMMA-based polymer resin and hard particles (in total), wherein the ratio by weight between hard particles and PMMA-based polymer resin is approximately 0.85; the catalyst that reacts with the polymer resin forms a further component. In contrast, the two deeper layers 31 and 32 of expansion body 10 each consist up to approximately 98 wt % of PMMA-based polymer resin and EPDM or rubber granules (in total), wherein the ratio by weight between EPDM/rubber granules and PMMA-based polymer resin is approximately 0.25. Here also the catalyst that reacts with the PMMA forms a further component.

In the interests of good fixation of expansion body 10 at the rims, the two base structures 13 respectively have, for expansion body 10, an adhesive face 34 that extends substantially parallel to working direction A of expansion joint 7. These adhesive faces 34 are formed by surfaces 18 of raised portions 15 of base structures 13. It is further important in this case that the casting compound of lowermost layer 31 of expansion body 10 fills the intermediate space between angled perforated strip 23, i.e. its respective horizontal leg 25, and the associated adhesive face 34 as well as possible. For this purpose, it may contribute in the sense of assembly for angled perforated strip 23 to be pressed into the still fresh casting compound and fixed by means of nuts 35 on previously set anchors 22 immediately after lowermost layer 31 of the expansion body has been cast—or at least after lateral corner regions E have been filled with corresponding casting compound. Furthermore, it is relevant for long-lasting good fixation of expansion body 10 at the rims that the casting compound penetrate through openings 24 and 28 of angled perforated strip 23, thus counteracting detachment phenomena.

Spacer plates 26 and angled perforated strips 23 are dimensioned and designed such that the upper side of horizontal legs 25 of angled perforated strips 23 lie at a level of approximately 20 mm and that upper edges 36 of vertical legs 27 of angled perforated strips 23 lie approximately 40 mm above adhesive faces 34. Thus the upper side of horizontal legs 25 of angled perforated strips 23 and the upper edges 36 of vertical legs 27 of angled perforated strips 23 are respectively suitable as support for stripping of lowermost layer 31 or of middle layer 32 of expansion body 10.

For the further exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIG. 2 on the one hand and in FIGS. 3 and 4 on the other hand, the foregoing explanations for FIG. 1 and for the first exemplary embodiment shown therein are correspondingly valid, unless otherwise indicated by the following explanations. Repetitions are unnecessary. Corresponding reference symbols denote (functionally) equivalent parts.

In a departure from the first exemplary embodiment, bracing plate 17′ in the second exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 2 is not seated floatingly. To the contrary, it is fixed unilaterally—in the present case to first partial building structure 2.1′-in that it is connected securely by means of screws 37 with base structure 13.1′ and substructure 3.1 of the first partial building structure. The entire working movement of bridging structure 9′ is therefore compensated by the movement of bracing plate 17′ relative to second partial building structure 2.2. Gap 20′ and filler strip 21′ of highly compressible material received therein are accordingly—in working direction A—of broader design.

Furthermore, the following three special features, which can obviously also be achieved (independently of one another) with the same advantage as in the two other exemplary embodiments shown, can be recognized. Seal 6′ projects under first roadway construction 4.1 and one piece extends far under base structure 13.1′ of first partial building structure 2.1′. Compared with the first exemplary embodiment, base structure 13.1′ of first partial building structure 2.1′ has a greater extent in working direction A and comprises a portion 38 having a surface 39 that—at the same level as drivable surfaces 5 of the two roadway constructions 4.1 and 4.2—is drivable. As illustrated here merely on the basis of base structure 13.2′, base structures 13.1′ and 13.2′ are additionally fixed on the associated substructure 3.1 and 3.2 via anchors 40.

The third exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 has the special feature that bracing plate 17″ is divided in this case, specifically into three parts. It comprises a first rim portion 41, which is securely connected by means of screws 42 with base structure 13.1″ and with substructure 3.1″ of first partial building structure 2.1″, and a second rim portion 43, which is securely connected in a corresponding manner by means of screws with base structure 13.2″ and with substructure 3.1″ of second partial building structure 2.2″. The third part of bracing plate 17″ is received (in free-floating manner), namely as a free bracing-plate portion 44, between first rim portion 41 and second rim portion 43.

The two gaps 45 present on both sides of free bracing-plate portion 44 between this and adjacent rim portion 41 and 43 are not of continuous linear design but to the contrary have zig-zag shape. These (trapezoidal) reciprocal projections and recesses of the three parts of bracing plate 17″ are so long (in working direction A) that free bracing-plate portion 44 and the two fixed rim portions 41 and 43 mesh into one another—while maintaining the said gap 45 of zig-zag shape—in the region of two toothings 46 corresponding to one another.

Taking into consideration the foregoing explanations of the invention and especially of the three exemplary embodiments implementing it, further different configurations corresponding to the inventive concept are immediately obvious to a person skilled in the art. In particular, the bracing plate may also be designed as two parts (asymmetrically divided), wherein each of the two bracing-plate portions is fixed on one of the two partial building structures; the gap present between the two bracing-plate portions and offset relative to the expansion joint can in this case be designed to be continuously linear or else-preferably—to be of zig-zag shape in the sense of the foregoing third exemplary embodiment (e.g. with corrugated, trapezoidal, triangular or similar toothings meshing with one another).

To avoid misunderstandings, it must be further pointed out as a precaution that-especially for correspondingly long expansion joints (e.g. expansion joints with a length of more than three meters)—the various components extending in joint-length direction (particularly the bracing plate and/or angled or other profiles that may be present) may obviously be designed as “segmented”, in the sense that they comprise several segments arranged one after the other, as is illustrated in FIG. 4 for bracing plate 17″. Even the (lower) layers of the expansion body may be cast portion by portion (e.g. respectively in 3-m portions), which has considerable manufacturing-related advantages in particular for the lowermost of the layers; this is because it favors performance of the various operations to be carried out after introduction of the casting compound for the first layer of the expansion body in the trough (e.g. assembly of the angled perforated profiles, stripping of the surface of the first, lowermost layer of the expansion body, etc.) within the reaction time of the polymer base material. In any case, the uppermost of the layers of the expansion body will nevertheless preferably be cast in one piece over the entire length of the expansion joint.

Claims

1. A drivable building structure (1) having a first partial building structure (2.1; 2.1′; 2.1″) and a second partial building structure (2.2; 2.2′; 2.2″) drivable relative thereto, wherein the first partial building structure (2.1; 2.1′; 2.1″) comprises a first substructure (3.1; 3.1′; 3.1″) and a first roadway construction (4.1) forming a first drivable surface (5) and the second partial building structure (2.2; 2.2′; 2.2″) comprises a second substructure (3.2; 3.2′; 3.2″) and a second roadway construction (4.2) forming a second drivable surface (5),an expansion joint (7) is present between the first substructure (3.1; 3.1′; 3.1″) and the second substructure (3.2; 3.2′; 3.2″) anda bridging structure (9; 9′; 9″) spanning the expansion joint (7) and having a bracing plate (17; 17′; 17″) and an expansion body (10) braced thereby, cast in place from casting compound and forming a drivable surface (8) extends between the first roadway construction (4.1) and the second roadway construction (4.2),

2. The drivable building structure of claim 1, wherein the casting compounds of the layers (31, 32, 33) of the expansion body (10) having different compositions are filled with different aggregates (Z).

3. The drivable building structure of claim 2, wherein the casting compounds of the layers (31, 32, 33) of the expansion body (10) having different compositions have a matching polymer base.

4. The drivable building structure of claim 2, wherein an aggregate (Z) of the uppermost layer (33) of the expansion body (10) forming the drivable surface (8) is provided with harder fillers than is an aggregate (Z) of a deeper layer (31, 32) of the expansion body (10).

5. The drivable building structure of claim 4, wherein the fillers of the uppermost layer (33) of the expansion body (10) comprise hard particles (e.g. corundum).

6. The drivable building structure of claim 5, wherein the uppermost layer (33) of the expansion body (10) consists at least up to 80 wt %, preferably at least up to 95 wt %, of polymer and hard particles.

7. The drivable building structure of claim 6, wherein the ratio by weight of hard particles to polymer is between 0.75 and 0.95, preferably between 0.8 and 0.9.

8. The drivable building structure of claim 4, wherein the fillers at least of one deeper layer (31, 32) of the expansion body comprise EPDM granules and/or rubber granules.

9. The drivable building structure of claim 8, wherein the deeper layer (31. 32) of the expansion body (10) containing EPDM granules and/or rubber granules as filler consists at least up to 80 wt %, preferably at least up to 95 wt % of polymer and EPDM and/or rubber granules.

10. The drivable building structure of claim 9, wherein the ratio by weight of the total of EPDM granules and rubber granules to polymer is between 0.15 and 0.35, preferably between 0.2 and 0.3.

11. The drivable building structure of claim 1, wherein the bridging structure has two base structures (13.1, 13.2; 13.1′, 13.2′; 13.1″, 13.2″) connected with the substructure (3.1, 3.2; 3.1′, 3.2′; 3.1″, 3.2″) of the respective partial building structure (2.1, 2.2; 2.1′, 2.2′; 2.1″, 2.2″), wherein the bracing plate (17; 17′; 17″) is received between portions (15) of the two base structures (13.1, 13.2; 13.1′, 13.2′; 13.1″, 13.2″) respectively forming a frame (16).

12. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein the upper edges of the frames (16) and the surfaces (18) of the base structures (13.1, 13.2; 13.1′, 13.2′; 13.1″, 13.2″) adjoining them are substantially at the same level as the surface (19) of the bracing plate (17; 17′; 17″).

13. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein the base structures (13.1, 13.2; 13.1′, 13.2′; 13.1″, 13.2″) are designed with a stepped configuration such that they have support portions extending under the bracing plate (17; 17′; 17″).

14. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein the base structures (13.1, 13.2; 13.1′, 13.2′; 13.1″, 13.2″) consist of polymer concrete.

15. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein retaining means for fixation of the expansion body (10) at its rims are mounted on the two base structures (13.1, 13.2; 13.1′, 13.2′; 13.1″, 13.2″).

16. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein at least one of the base structures (13.1′) has a drivable surface (39).

17. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein the base structures (13.1, 13.2; 13.1′, 13.2′; 13.1″, 13.2″) respectively have, for expansion body (10), an adhesive face (38) that is oriented substantially parallel to the working direction (A) of the expansion joint.

18. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein a seal (6′) present between the substructure (3.1′) and the roadway construction (4.1) of a partial building structure (2.1′) extends under the associated base structure (13.1′).

19. The drivable building structure of claim 11, wherein a bracing plate (17; 17′) is provided that is not divided in working direction (A) of the expansion joint.

20. The drivable building structure of claim 19, wherein a highly compressible filler strip (21; 21′) extends along at least one end side-viewed in the working direction (A) of the expansion joint (7)—of the bracing plate (17; 17′).

21. The drivable building structure of claim 18, wherein the bracing plate (17′) that is not divided is fixed unilaterally on the substructure (3.1′) and/or on a base structure (13.1′) that may be placed thereon of one of the two partial building structures (2.1′).

22. The drivable building structure of claim 1, wherein the bracing plate (17″) is designed in divided manner in working direction (A) of the expansion joint (7) and has two bracing-plate portions fixed respectively on the substructure (3.1″, 3.2″) of one of the two partial building structures (2.1″, 2.2″).

23. The drivable building structure of claim 22, wherein the two fixed bracing-plate portions are designed to mesh into one another in toothed manner.

24. The drivable building structure of claim 22, wherein the bracing plate (17″) is of a three-piece design in working direction (A) of the expansion joint (7), wherein the two fixed bracing-plate portions respectively form a rim portion (41, 43), between which a free bracing-plate portion (44) is received that on both sides is meshed in toothed manner with the respective adjoining rim portion (41, 43).

25. The drivable building structure of claim 1, wherein a separating course (29) designed in particular as an elastomer web, especially as EPDM film (30), is situated between the bracing plate (17; 17′; 17″) and the expansion body (10).

26. The drivable building structure of claim 1, wherein the polymer-based casting compound of the expansion body is provided especially with PMMA, PU and/or polyurea as the polymer base.

27. The drivable building structure of claim 26, wherein PMMA forms the polymer base of the polymer-based casting compound of the expansion body for all layers (31, 32, 33) of the expansion body (10), wherein the expansion body (10) has an elongation after break of at least 100%, preferably at least 120%, in each of its layers (31, 32, 33).

28. The drivable building structure of claim 1, wherein at least the lowermost layer (31) of the expansion body (10) consists of several portions joined to one another in longitudinal direction of the expansion joint (7) and cast in succession, and in that at least the uppermost layer (33) of the expansion body (10) is cast continuously, in a single work cycle, over the entire length of the expansion joint (7).