Double-sided seawall panel unit

Abstract

The present invention is a precast concrete micro habitat unit, which is attached to vertical sea walls to enrich marine biodiversity in intertidal zones. The panel is (1) V-shaped folded structure, which is designed to increase surface area for recruitment of marine species on both sides of the panels as well as on the existing seawall surface area. The structure also helps reduce wave energy affecting to the existing seawall. It includes (2) a complex pattern of sharp angular cavities which provides microhabitats for small marine organisms (3) cut openings that allow organisms to travel to the back of the panel. The surface of the back panel is (4) grooved and allows the organisms to settle and sustain small habitats there. Since the back of the panel is highly shaded, it helps reduce heat and desiccation stress for marine species. This precast concrete panel unit is (5) attached to the seawalls by bolted stainless steel plate connections.

Description

Title of invention: Double-sided Seawall Panel Unit 雙面海堤面板單元 Technical Field The present invention relates to a precast concrete microhabitat unit which is attached to the vertical seawall to enhance ecosystem value in intertidal zones of vertical artificial seawalls. Background of the Invention Artificial seawalls are usually made to protect developed shorelines against erosion caused by wave actions or stabilize developments. Unlike natural rocky shorelines, artificial seawalls are usually flat and lack surface complexity such as crevices, holes or pools which act as a refuge for small marine organisms from their predators and unfavorable environmental conditions. Thus, adding new artificial structures or modifying existing structures to provide a range of ecosystem services and functions to the intertidal community can be a response to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible coastlines. A number of artificial features has been made elsewhere to enhance ecological value on existing seawalls. Nevertheless, they need to be installed fully against the seawall, thus the existing species on the seawall need to be cleared before installation and the surface area for the marine organisms to inhabit is limited. The invention of V-shaped , double-sided seawall panel solved the mentioned issue in previous inventions by having minimal contact with the seawall for attachment, thereby maximizing the surface areas for marine microhabitats. Summary The present invention is a precast concrete microhabitat unit, which is attached to vertical seawalls to promote the growth of flora and fauna in intertidal zones. It is made of a concrete mixture that incorporates recycled materials and technology in its production method. The invention is made not only to increase ecological value of the artificial coastlines but it can also reduce wave energy with its faceted geometry. Vertical seawalls have a problem of high wave energy reflection. The invention unit is faceted structure that helps reduce wave energy during high tide periods. Moreover, V-shaped, facted structure is made to maximize the surface areas for marine microhabitats. The outer surface bears a complex pattern of small, angular and 1 HK 20138184 A sharp cavities, mimicking the surface complexity of natural rocky shorelines. During low tide periods, these small cavities can provide shading for small marine organisms during the daytime and help retain small amount of water and moisture inside. This regulates the temperature inside through extreme temperature changes and enable the survival of intertidal organisms on the artificial surface. Moreover, it can provide a refuge for small marine organisms from their predators. The cut opening holes are included in the panel units allow them to travel to the back of the panel. The surface of the back of the panel is grooved, providing a rough texture to allow organisms to easily settle on the surface and develop an ecosystem inside the enclosed structure. Meanwhile, the grooved concrete surface technically helps reduce potential cracks within the unit caused by unfavorable climate conditions. The panel unit is precast and connected to the seawall using bolted stainless steel plates, which is of high strength and stiffness and is easy to assemble and produce. Minimial contact area for attachment is made with the existing seawall so that native marine communities on the seawall will have minimal damage due to the assembly of the precast panel unit. Brief Description FIG.1. AXONOMETRIC VIEW OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION FIG.2. COMBINED PLAN, FRONT VIEW AND SIDE VIEW OF THE PRESENT INVENTION FIG.3. THE EMBODIMENT OF V-SHAPED FOLDED STRUCTURE IN THE PRESENT INVENTION FIG.4. AXONOMETRIC VIEW OF THE PRESENT INVENTION SHOWING THE FRONT SIDE OF THE PANEL FIG.5. AXONOMETRIC VIEW OF THE PRESENT INVENTION SHOWING THE BACK OF THE PANEL Detailed Description References are provided to have an understanding of specific embodiments of the in- vention in a detailed and comprehensive manner. Fig. 1, represents the overall shape of the present invention. The invention mimics the surface complexity of natural rocks and is attached to vertical sea walls to promote the growth of flora and fauna in intertidal zones. The present invention is made of pre-cast concrete, and the composition of the mixture incorporates waste materials and adopts a sustainable and environmentally friendly method of production. 2 HK 20138184 A The composition of concrete mixture contains at least one type of ordinary cement, aggregates comprising at least two fine aggregates and coarse aggregates and Pul- verized Fuel Ash (PFA) and Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBS), in addition to self-compacting admixtures. The PFA and GGBS reduces the amount of cement in the panel, and therefore reduces the amount of embodied carbon. The flora and fauna grown on the invention is not limited to a particular species and are naturally recruited. Fig.2. It has an overall dimension of 800 mm x 1000 mm with 90 mm thickness. It uses a faceted structure, in which the folded edges are inclined outward gradually from the vertical wall, forming an upward-sloped, pocket-like folded structure. Fig.3. This can dissipate wave energy by breaking the reflected waves into different directions, thus helping with high wave reflection problem of vertical sea walls and reduce coastal ero- sion. Fig.4, Fig.5. The outer surface of the panel unit contains a pattern of small cavities which is created to enhance marine biodiversity of intertidal zones. They are small, sharp, angular voids that can help retain small amount of water inside to sustain ma- rine flora and fauna on the surface and provide small intertidal organisms a refuge from their predators as well as from sudden climate changes and harsh weather con- ditions. The small cavities are of quadrilateral-shaped and composed in an irregular, complex pattern and slightly varied in sizes. Fig.6. Moreover, the panel also includes cut openings holes that allow small intertidal organisms to travel from the outer sur- face the back of the panel. The surface of the back of the panel is grooved, creating a rough surface texture so that small marine organisms can easily hang on the structure. The groove pattern is in V-shape and these grooves help reduce potential cracks or fractures within the panel unit caused by stress concentration as well as from expan- sion and shrinkage caused by sudden weather changes. An enclosure formed in- be- tween the inclined folded structure and the seawall nurture favorable conditions for the growth of marine micro-organisms such as moisture context inside, shading and shelter, etc. The panel described here uses two bolted stainless steel plate connections to attach to the vertical seawall using a single-angle bolted steel plate connection per angle bracket. The stainless steel angle section is attached to the vertical seawall while the other stainless steel plate is embedded in the precast concrete panel unit upon casting. 3 HK 20138184 A The angle section and the steel plate are connected in shear connection using stain- less steel bolts through the aligned prefabricated holes within the steel plates. The bolted stainless steel plate shear connection secures high strength support and stiffness to the structure. It is efficient to assemble and produce. The dimensions of the bolted connections are adjustable with respect to the surface condition and are aligned with rubber washers or shims as needed. 4 HK 20138184 A Claims 1. A coastal infrastructure unit, attached to vertical seawalls, is a symmetrically faceted folded structure, in which symmetrically faceted planes at 40 degree inward, inclines outward gradually from the vertical sea wall, creating pocket-like enclosure opening at the top. The panel is double-sided to maximize the surface areas for marine microhabitats. The outer surface contains a complex pattern of sharp and angular small openings of various shapes and sizes that can retain a small amount of seawa- ter to promote the growth of flora and fauna as well as cut openings that allows the intertidal organisms to travel to the back of the panel. The back of the panel is grooved and the enclosed structure support favorable conditions for both marine flora and fau- na to sustain microhabitats. The panel is strongly attached to the seawall with minimal contact by bolted steel plate connection. 2. A coastal infrastructure unit according to claim 1, has approximately a dimension of 800mm x 1000mm x 90 mm and it is deployed between subtidal and high intertidal zones at the vertical seawalls. 3. A coastal infrastructure unit according to claim 1 is, made of concrete mixture with a lower amount of embodied carbon. 4. A coastal infrastructure according to claim 1, concrete has an average compres- sive strength between 20-30 Mpa. 5. A coastal infrastructure unit, according to claim 1, has a complex pattern of quadrilateral-shaped openings varied in sizes with a depth of 30mm and which sur- face area is no larger than 1600 m2. The pattern placement can be adjusted. 6. A coastal infrastructure unit, according to claim 1, the cut openings bear the same geometric shape as the small cavities on the surface and are scattered within the pattern throughout the panel. 7. A coastal infrastructure unit, according to claim 1, the grooves at the back of the panel are V-shaped, equally spaced of 10 mm from each other and is 8mm deep. 8. A coastal infrastructure unit, according to claim 1, the bolts inserted in steel plate connection has high strength stainless steel bolts. 1 HK 20138184 A 1 HK 20138184 A 2 HK 20138184 A 3 HK 20138184 A

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