Lightweight, passively deployable, stackable flood control system and method

Abstract

A system that separates a wet side W from a dry side D which prevents fluid, such as water, from flowing from W to D. The system includes a first unit having a first barrier, a first tensile line connecting a top and bottom of the first barrier, and at least a second tensile line connecting to an anchoring point. The anchoring point is on the W side of the first unit and attaches by the second tensile line to adjacent the top of the first barrier of the first unit. The system includes a second unit above the first unit and a third unit on one side of the first unit. A system includes a first flexible unit and a second flexible unit, each having an expandable and contractable barrier which limits fluid flow from W to D. The second unit is on top of the first unit. Methods for separating a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid from flowing from W to D.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTIONLightweight. Passively Deployable, Stackable Flood Control System and MethodCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This is a nonprovisional application of U.S. patent application serial number 63 / 546,744 filed October 31, 2023, incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is related to flood protection. More specifically, the present invention is related to a flood protection method and system which lies flat when there is no flood, deploys as (or, in some embodiments, shortly before) the water rises, and is stackable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of the art that may be related to various aspects of the present invention. The following discussion is intended to provide information to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. Accordingly, it should be understood that statements in the following discussion are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.

[0004] Extreme weather events, including coastal flood surges, are an ever-present danger for many coastal cities. Current storm drain infrastructure is already unable to accommodate the most serious flooding events Shanahan and Wong (2021), which may increase in severity due to climate change. One effective solution to increasing the efficacy of storm drainage systems is to employ physical barriers as buffers so that the water flux does not exceed a drainage system’s throughput capacity.

[0005] Flood mitigation strategies are often costly and obtrusive. They typically consist of expensive permanent concrete barriers that restrict access to waterfronts, impeding access to both humans and wildlife. An alternative is to deploy sandbags in the face of an anticipated flood, but although stackable, sandbags are bulky and heavy and therefore difficult to deploy and often degrade while in storage. Weight savings can be had by filling the bags with lightweight hydrophilic material, but they are still somewhat bulky and are effectively single use. Bags are also in danger of toppling over if piled too high, so need to be piled as a modified pyramid, adding to both expense and labor.[00061 Other lightweight solutions make use of a flood’ s static water pressure to deploy and support a folding barrier. A particularly interesting one is the Watergate quickdams.com (2022). Such technologies, however, are not stackable, so can create a dam only up to a fixed height.

[0007] The ideal flood protection system would lie flat when there is no flood, would deploy as the water rises, and would be stackable. The present invention combines the stackability of sandbags and the ease of deployment of Watergate with a cost-effective and compact design that automatically unfolds when needed, and folds away when flood waters recede.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention pertains to a system which separates a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid, such as water, from flowing from W to D . The system comprises a set of flexible units. A first unit of the set of flexible units having a first barrier, a first tensile line connecting adjacent to a top and bottom of the first barrier, and at least a second tensile line connecting adjacent to an anchoring point. The term ‘adjacent to a top’ could mean attached to a top or attached near the top. In general, ‘adjacent to’ P for some structural point P means attached to P or attached near P. The anchoring point is on the W side of the first unit and attaches by the second tensile line adjacent to the top of the first barrier of the first unit. The system comprises a first attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to a second unitof the set of flexible units having a second barrier. The second unit above the first unit, and having at least a third tensile line. The anchoring point attaches by the third tensile line adjacent to a top of the second barrier. The system comprises a second attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to a third unit of the set of flexible units. The third unit is on one side of the first unit.

[0009] The present invention pertains to a system which separates fluid on a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid, such as water, from flowing from W to D. The system comprises a first flexible unit having an expandable and contractable first barrier which limits fluid flow from W to D. The system comprises at least a second flexible unit having an expandable and contractable second barrier which limits fluid flow from W to D and is on top of the first unit.

[0010] The present invention pertains to a method for separating a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid such as water from flowing from W to D. The method comprises the steps of raising a top of a first barrier of a first unit with the fluid as the fluid rises on the W side. Alternatively, the first barrier may be raised separately. The first unit having a first tensile line connecting adjacent to the top and a bottom of the first barrier. There is at least a second tensile line connecting adjacent to an anchoring point. The Anchoring point on the W side of the first unit attaches by the second tensile line adjacent to the top of the first barrier of the first unit. There is the Step of raising a top of a second barrier of a second unit with the fluid as the fluid rises above the top of the first unit. The second unit above the first unit. The anchoring point attaches by a third tensile line adjacent to a top of the second barrier. A first attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to the second unit. A second attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to a third unit. The third unit on one side of the first unit.

[0011] The present invention pertains to a method for separating a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid such as water from flowing from W to D. The method comprises the steps of placing a first unit between the W side and the D side. There is the step of connecting with a first tensile line adjacent to a top and a bottom of a first barrier of the first unit. There is the step of connecting a second tensile line adjacent to an anchoring point and adjacent to thetop of the first barrier of the first unit. The anchoring point on the W side of the first unit. There is the step of connecting a bottom of a second barrier of a second unit adjacent to and above the top of the first barrier of the first unit. The second unit is above the first unit. The anchoring point attaches by a third tensile line adjacent to and above a top of the second barrier. A first attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to the second unit. A fourth tensile line connecting the top and the bottom of the second barrier.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Figure 1 shows the full deployment of a three-layer two tensile line system of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 shows the full deployment of a three-layer three tensile line system of the present invention.

[0014] Figure 3 is a front view of the barrier (from the waterside).

[0015] Figure 4 shows the system folded.

[0016] Figure 5 shows a free-body diagram of the present invention.

[0017] Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a three tensile line embodiment

[0018] Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a two tensile line embodiment.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to similar or identical parts throughout the several views, and more specifically to figures 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a two tensile line embodiment and a three tensile fine embodiment, respectively, of a system 10 which separates a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid 12, such as water, from flowing from W to D. The system 10 comprises a set of flexible units 14. A firstunit 16 of the set of flexible units 14 having a first barrier 18, a first tensile line 20 connecting adjacent to a top 22 and bottom 24 of the first barrier 18, and at least a second tensile line 26 connecting adjacent to an anchoring point 28. The anchoring point 28 is on the W side of the first unit 16 and attaches by the second tensile line 26 adjacent to the top 22 of the first barrier 18 of the first unit 16. The system 10 comprises a first attachment mechanism 30 (Fig. 3) extending from the first unit 16 (Fig. 3 for the front view) to a second unit 32 of the set of flexible units 14 having a second barrier 34. The second unit 32 above the first unit 16, and having at least a third tensile line 36, as shown in figure 1. The anchoring point 28 attaches by the third tensile line 36 to adjacent a top 22 of the second barrier 34. The system 10 comprises a second attachment mechanism 38 (Fig. 3) extending from the first unit 16 to a third unit 40 of the set of flexible units 14. The third unit 40 on one side 42 of the first unit 16 (Fig, 3). There are also floats 62 shown in figures 1 and 2 that support an embodiment in which rising water causes the structure to unfold.

[0020] There may be a fourth unit 43 having a third barrier 45 , as shown in figure 1 and figure 3. The fourth unit 43 above the second unit 32, and having a fourth tensile line 47. The anchoring point 28 attaches by the fourth tensile line 47 adjacent to a top 22 of the third barrier. The second unit 32 (Fig. 1), the third unit 40 (not shown in figure 1 but shown in figure 3), and the fourth unit 43 (Fig. 1), (and for any additional units above or alongside the first, second, third and fourth units) each has a first tensile line 20 connecting adjacent to a top 22 and bottom 24 of the respective barrier (Fig. 1 ).

[0021] In regard to figure 2, the three tensile line embodiment of the system 10 differs from the two tensile line embodiment shown in figure 1 , where the third and fourth tensile lines directly connect from adjacent to the top 22 of each of the second and third barriers, respectively, to adjacent to the anchor point 28. In the three tensile design, the third tensile line 36, and fourth tensile line 47 indirectly connect with the anchor point 28. In the three tensile line embodiment shown in figure 2, there is at least one additional tensile line between each of the third, and fourth tensile lines and the anchor point 28. That is, there is a fifth tensile line 37 extending upwards from the anchor point 28 and directly connecting adjacent to the third tensileline 36 at a second anchoring point 48, which is above the first anchoring point 28. In this three tensile line embodiment the third tensile line 36 now extends from adjacent to the top 22 of the second barrier 34 to the second anchoring point 48, and not to the first anchoring point 28. Similarly, there is a sixth tensile line 39 which extends from adjacent to the second anchoring point 48 to adjacent to a third anchoring point 49, which is above the second anchoring point 48, and directly connects with the fourth tensile line 47 at the third anchoring point 49. In this embodiment, the fourth tensile line 47 indirectly connects adjacent to the first anchoring point 28, by directly connecting with the sixth tensile line 39, which in turn directly connects with the fifth tensile line 37, which in turn directly connects with the first anchoring point 28. Thus, the top 22 of the third unit 45 connects adjacent to the anchor point 28 by way of three tensile lines 47, 39, 37 and two anchoring points 48, 49. As additional layers of units are added above, another “intermediate” tensile line and another anchoring point will be added in turn to the then highest anchor point.

[0022] The first unit 16 may be a bottom unit 44 and the anchoring point 28 for the bottom unit 44 of the set of flexible units 14 is on a surface, such as ground 46 (fig. 1, fig. 2). An anchoring point 28 for a unit U of the set of flexible units 14 other than the bottom unit 44 of the set of flexible units 14 may be the anchoring point 28 of the bottom unit 44 (two tensile line, first embodiment) or a second anchoring point 48 on another unit below unit U (three tensile line, second embodiment). As shown in Figure 3, at least one of the first and second atachment mechanisms 30, 38 may be a zipper 50, or a hook and loop closure 52, or a sticky mechanism 54, or a combination of at least two of a hook and loop closure 52, a zipper 50, or a sticky mechanism 54.

[0023] The system 10 may include a flap 56 (Fig. 3) which closes any gaps 58 left in junctions 60 where the first or second attachment mechanisms 30, 38 of at least the first, second and third units 16, 32, 40 meet. Alternatively, the flap 56 may close any gaps 58 left in the junctions 60 where three units meet, because the units are laid out vertically like bricks in a building.(0024] The units of the set of flexible units 14 may stack on top of one another to several levels, as shown in figure 3. When fluid 12 arrives on the W side, first the bottom unit 44 may deploy (unfold) and then the second unit 32 as more fluid 12 arrives, as shown in figures 1 and 2. As fluid 12 recedes on the W side, the second unit 32 may fold first and then the bottom unit 44 folds later than the second unit 32. The first barrier 18 may be flat in a folded state, as shown in figure 4. The top 22 of the first barrier 18 may have a float 62 which causes the top 22 of the first barrier 18 to rise as the level of the fluid 12 rises on the W side (figures 1, 2, 6, 7). Preferably, each barrier has a float 62 adjacent its top 22, as well as each anchor point besides the first anchor point 28, in regard to the second embodiment as shown in figure 2. The floats 62 (represented as circles) attached to the tensile lines cause both the barrier and the lines to lie above the water.

[0025] The present invention pertains to a system 10 that separates fluid 12 on a wet side W from a dry side D, as shown in figures 1 and 2. The System 10 comprises a first flexible unit 16 having an expandable and contractable first barrier 18 which limits fluid 12 flow from W to D. The system 10 comprises at least a second flexible unit 32 having an expandable and contractable second barrier 34 which limits fluid 12 flow from W to D and is on top of the first unit 16.

[0026] The system 10 may include a junction 60 (Fig. 3) between the first unit 16 and the second unit 32 which limits fluid 12 flow from W to D and between the first unit 16 and the second unit 32. The second barrier 34 may have a top 22 and a botom 24 (Fig. 1), and including a float 62 attached adjacent to the top 22 of the second barrier 34. The float 62 rises as the fluid 12 rises, lifting the float 62 so the fluid 12 is limited from flowing over the second barrier 34. The float 62 falls as the fluid 12 falls, causing the float 62 to fall.

[0027] The system 10 may include an anchoring point 28 (Figs. 1 and 2) fixed to a desired location on the W side, and a first tensile line 20 attached to the anchoring point 28 and adjacent to the top 22 of the second barrier 34 which limits movement of the top 22 of the second barrier 34 in a horizontal direction. The system 10 may include a base anchor 29 attached adjacent to a bottom 24 of the first barrier 18 which holds the bottom 24 in place sothe fluid 12 is limited from flowing under the first barrier 18. The base anchor 29 may include a weight.

[0028] The system 10 may include a botom fabric incorporating a weight attached to hold the first barrier 18 from floating where the botom fabric is atached to the first unit 16, The system 10 may include a second tensile line 26 attached adjacent to the top 22 of the second barrier 34 and adjacent to the bottom 24 of the second barrier 34. The system 10 may include a pulling mechanism 51, as shown in figures 1 and 2, in communication (indirectly connected) with the second barrier 34, which pulls the top 22 of the second barrier 34 to a desired height and holds the top 22 of the second barrier 34 at the desired height. The system 10 may include at least n additional units (n-2 in addition to the bottom unit in Figs. 1 and 2), where n is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer, and the n additional units stack on top of each other and above the second barrier 34. The pulling mechanism 51 in communication with the first barrier 18, the second barrier 34, and the n additional barriers of the n additional units. Here, in communication means to be directly or indirectly in connection with the first barrier 18, and more generally means a first object is directly or indirectly in connection with a second object, and where indirectly means the first object is connected to the second object through a third or more objects. The pulling mechanism 51 pulls the first barrier 18, the second barrier 34, and the n additional barriers to the desired height and holds the first barrier 18, the second barrier 34, and the n additional barriers at the desired height.

[0029] The present invention pertains to a method for separating a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid 12 such as water from flowing from W to D. The method comprises the steps of raising a top 22 (Figs. 1 and 2) of a first barrier 18 of a first unit 16 with the fluid 12 as the fluid 12 rises on the W side. The first unit 16 having a first tensile line 20 connecting adjacent to the top 22 and a bottom 24 of the first barrier 18. There is at least a second tensile line 26 connecting adjacent to an anchoring point 28. The anchoring point 28 on the W side of the first unit 16 attaches by the second tensile line 26 adjacent to the top 22 of the first barrier 18 of the first unit 16. There is the step of raising a top 22 of a second barrier 34 of a second unit 32 with the fluid 12 as the fluid 12 rises above the top 22 of the first unit 16. The second unit 32 above the first unit 16. The anchoring point 28 attaches by a third tensile line 36to adjacent a top 22 of the second barrier 34. A first attachment mechani sm 30 and 50 (Fig. 3) extending from the first unit 16 to the second unit 32. A second attachment mechanism 38 extending from the first unit 16 to a third unit 40. The third unit 40 is on one side 42 of the first unit 16. Instead of the fluid 12 raising the first and second units and any n additional units, the pulling mechanism 51 (Figs. 1 and 2) may be used to lift the first and second and any n additional units.

[0030] The present invention pertains to a method for separating a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid 12 such as water from flowing from W to D. The method comprises the steps of placing a first unit 16 (Figs. 1 and 2) between the W side and the D side. There is the step of connecting with a first tensile line 20 adjacent a top 22 and a bottom 24 of a first barrier 18 of the first unit 16. There is the step of connecting a second tensile line 26 adj acent to an anchoring point 28 and adjacent to the top 22 of the first barrier 18 of the first unit 16. The anchoring point 28 on the W side of the first unit 16. There is the step of connecting a bottom 24 of a second barrier 34 of a second unit 32 adjacent to and above the top 22 of the first barrier 18 of the first unit 16. The second unit 32 above the first unit 16. The anchoring point 28 attaches by a third tensile line 36 adjacent to a top 22 of the second barrier 34. A first attachment mechanism 30 (Fig. 3) extending from the first unit 16 to the second unit 32. A fourth tensile line connecting the top 22 and the bottom 24 of the second barrier 34 (Figs. 1 and 2).

[0031] In the operation of the invention, Figure 5 shows a free body diagram of the forces acting on a 2D “cross-section" of a simplified system 10 of the present invention, hereafter called SNAILGATE, in static equilibrium. Note that the Normal force on the vertices touching the ground 46 is not considered. The SNAILGATE model is fixed at an anchor point 28.

[0032] Each stackable unit U consists of a two-dimensional fabric barrier 20 with a float62 at the top 22, a tensile line 20 made of webbing extending from the top 22 of the barrier 20 to the bottom 24, a line of webbing 26 linking the top 22 of the barrier to the ground anchor 28or to the stackable unit below (Figures 1, 2). There are also means of connecting the unit horizontally and vertically to its neighbors, as in figure 3.

[0033] As water approaches from the anchor side, the float 62 of the barrier 20 lifts the top 22 of the bottom unit’s 44 fabric barrier 20 up, thus effectively preventing the water from going past the barrier 20. As more and more water arrives, the barrier 20 continues to unfurl, as in Figures 1, 2. When the water drains away, the SNAILGATE falls to lie almost flat as in Figure 4.

[0034] Figures 1 and 2 are each a 3~Layer SNAILGATE. Each unit has (i) a tensile line 20 that attaches the bottom 24 to the top 22 of the unit’s fabric barrier where there will be a float 62, (ii) a tensile line 26 from the top 22 of the fabric barrier to the anchor point 28 (embodiment L Fig. 1); or a tensile line 36, 47 to the tensile line 37, 39, respectively, from a unit below as shown in figure 2 (embodiment 2) , and (iii) a tensile line from the top anchor point to a point above with a float 62 at the top end of that tensile line. Thus, the unit of embodiment 2 resembles a stylized "N" (Figs. 2 and 6) when fully unfurled. When at its maximum height, a three stackable unit implementation of SNAILGATE will have tensile lines all attached to an anchor point 28, as shown in figure I, or to other tensile lines as shown in figure 2. The barriers will be attached to the barriers of other units by a zipper 50 (Fig. 3) (with patches 56, also, e.g., 38 and 30, at zipper intersections to prevent leakage).

[0035] In the modeling, if is assumed that the folly unfurled SNAILGATE is higher than the maximum fluid 12 level. If there is sufficient fluid 12 on the top 22 of the SNAILGATE that exceeds the buoyant force, the SNAILGATE can collapse. In practical application, it is desired to stack enough units so their unfurled height is significantly greater than the maximum height of the flooding event. In addition, because SNAILGATE is not designed to deploy underwater, floodwater fluxes that produce swells above the height of the folded system could be problematic. One way to mitigate this is by “pulling" the barrier to an unfurled state above the anticipated height of such swells before the water arrives, see the pulling mechanism 51 of figures 1 and 2.

[0036] Several different embodiments may be used to hold the fabric barrier 20 of the bottom unit 44 (Figs. 1 and 2) in place so little or no water flows under the bottom unit 44. In one embodiment, there is a weight or a base anchor 29 at the base of the bottom unit 44 to prevent it from floating with the incoming water. In another embodiment, there is a separate bottom fabric which is attached to the bottom 24 of the barrier, for instance with a zipper attachment, and a weight or weights are attached to the bottom fabric.[0037} Physics

[0038] Normal and gravitational forces on the surface of the fabric barrier 20 are not represented because they directly cancel. The remaining forces to consider are hydrostatic and tension. Quasi-static conditions are assumed as the SNAILGATE unfurls, so the equilibrium set of forces given any height of the water that is below the height of the SNAILGATE is modeled.

[0039] Table 1 - Comparison of various flood mitigation strategies. Based on SENSO model factors Bignami, Rosso and Sanfilippo (2019). G=good performance, M=middling performance, P=poor performance.

[0040] Figure 5 is a Tree-Body Diagram: a two-dimensional view of the forces induced on the two-dimensional fabric barrier (extending into the page), a one-dimensional tensile line26, and the ground 46. Sewn into the fabric barrier 20 will be a cylindrical float 62 under 5 centimeters in diameter.

[0041] Start by considering the forces exerted on each vertex due to water pressure, denoted as F where (i, j) represents the edge experiencing said force. Note that water is used as a paradigmatic fluid, but other fluids such as petrochemicals could be stopped using SNAILGATE. The pressure due to water on a point of the barrier at height y, where y is below the height Awater of the water. This can be calculated as follows:

[0042] Pwater “ P^(Awater ~ y), for y < Abater (1 )

[0043] In figures 2 and 6, each stackable unit of embodiment 2 consists of a fabric barrier and three tensile lines. There is a float 62 in the fabric barrier and on one of the three tensile lines. Anchor tensile lines from higher units will attach to the tensile line with the float 62.

[0044] Where p is water density and g is the acceleration due to gravity. Water density is taken as p = 1 kgfii3and gravity as g = 9.81m / s2as constants in our simulation. The units of pressure are Nfn2or Pascal (Pa). Note that the formula applies only to points below the water level and ignores atmospheric pressure. Atmospheric pressure can be ignored because it is the same on both sides of the barrier (denoted Dry and Wet), and therefore does not impact the net force experienced at any point. Examine how the force of water pressure on an edge can be calculated.

[0045] Force on infinitesimal area

[0046] Consider the force caused by pressure in an infinitesimal length of the SNAILGATE barrier (the barrier is the part in black):

[0047]

[0048]

[0049] Where dl is the infinitesimal member element and W is the horizontal width of each stackable unit (coming out of the plane in this figure) , The resultant force can be calculated acting on a given edge by integrating over its length:

[0050]

[0051]

[0052]

[0053] L here is the length of the curving part of the fabric from the lower left-hand part of figure 1 , y here is parameterized by 1 (the distance from the anchor point A to some arbitrary point on the fabric below hwater) . Fp is maximized when hWBter is at the full height of the barrier, due to the monotonicity of 3, and the fact that the total force of the water is proportional to hwater-

[0054] Tension Forces

[0055] Tension forces arise when materials stretch. In the model, it is assumed that the tensile line from the anchor of each SNAILGATE cell does not stretch substantially. Therefore, tension forces are not considered in the simulation. The maximum load strength is established below.

[0056] Simulation

[0057] Fabric and Floats

[0058] The maximum hydrostatic pressure that the barrier experiences in this configuration (h=3m) is 19psi, 130kPA, which can be approximated with the equation:

[0059] P = pgh^r + p0, (8)

[0060] With p being the density of water and g being acceleration due to gravity.

[0061] The maximal force vector in the simulation is 37N, which corresponds to 37kPA(kilopascals) given an integration step of 100cm. This requires at most a Nylon barrier of 1000 denier. The webbing width for the anchor tensile lines can be at most 10 centimeters even for a 7-meter-high structure. The float 62 size in cross-sectional area would be at most 40cm2(diameter of under 8 cm).

[0062] To compute the size of the floats 62, assume the maximal 1000 denier design. 1000 denier fabric weighs 339 g / meter- squared. So, if there is an area of height H and width W and

[0064] Table 2 - Example SNAILGATE Configurations. Webbing spacing is the distance between tensile lines of webbing tethering the SNAILGATE to the fixed anchor points. For multiple stacked units, values for barrier material are unaffected, but flotation must increase. 1” corresponds to 2.54 cm. Thus, a webbing thickness of 7 cm or less will be enough.

[0065] 1000 denier Nylon fabric, then a total flotation of

[0066] 339 x H x W g is needed.

[0067] The volume of the float 62 will be the cross-sectional area of the float C times the width W. Water weighs 1,000 kilograms per m-cubed (oil is 881 kilograms per m-cubed). So, if there is a width of 10 meters and a height of 1 meter, then the total number of grams of flotation needed in water is 3390 grams. Let’s say this is rounded up to 10,000 grams or 10 kilograms. For this a total flotation volume of 0.01 meters-cubed would be needed. This is divided by the 10-meter length to get a cross-sectional area of 0.001 meter-squared.

[0068] To get a 0.001 -meter squared area (or 10 cm-squared area), a radius of r is needed such that 10 = TT r2. So

[0069] r - 1.8 centimeters or a diameter of under 3.6 centimeters. The cross-sectional area of the float 62 size rises linearly with the height of each unit.

[0070] Table 2 gives some example configurations. Webbing spacing is the distance between lines of webbing tethering the SNAILGATE barrier to anchoring positions on the ground 46.

[0071] Software Implementation

[0072] The simulation software was implemented as a Flask app inside a Docker container for maximal portability. The project is divided into server and client instances and is designed such that it can be hosted on a website supporting multiple users. The software enables the user to test multiple flood barrier designs by specifying anchor points, float sizes, and lengths of barriers and tension lines. This is accomplished either via the graphical interface) or by editing the JSON representation of the barrier directly. The user can then test the performance of the design via the simulation techniques described herein. The user can specify the step size, starting and ending water levels and solving technique (Forward or Backward Euler).

[0073] Figure 7 shows a basic Two Tensile Line design (embodiment 1).

[0074] After "Solve" is pressed, the GUI representation of the floodgate reacts in realtime to the simulation conditions. Users can save the results of the simulation as a data file, with each step in the solve included as a JSON representation of the flood barrier state.

[0075] Two Tensile Line Design

[0076] In this section, a two tensile line embodiment (Fig 1) for SNAILGATE is presented. This design differs from conventional self- supporting barrier designs in that it is still comprised of stackable units, because the fabric barrier of a lower unit offers a base to support upper fabric barriers. In this two tensile line system, all SNAILGATE units are connected to the same anchor point 28 when stacked, so the tensile lines must be adjustable. Doubled D- rings are used as before to achieve this adjustability. Figure 7 shows the individual base unit of the two tensile embodiment.

[0077] Simulation of this design yields similar forces on the material as the three tensile line design, so materials can be selected based on height by referring to Table 2.

[0078] Prototype Design Components and Specifications

[0079] The SNAILGATE prototype is a 1 :3 two tensile line scale model (in height and depth only: the width can be arbitrarily long) of what is anticipated to be deployed in coastal zones. Also, though greater heights have not been simulated, the height can extend to 7 meters as shown in Table 2. The prototype is contained in a foldable enclosure for ease of demonstration. The dimensions of the enclosure are 120 x 55 x 50 cm (LxWxH), with the prototype SNAILGATE measuring 100cm in height. Zippers 50 were included at each interface between the barrier and the enclosure. (Figure 3).

[0080] Figure 3 shows a front view of the fabric barrier (from the water side). Different units need to be mated. While zippers 50 run along the perimeters of each unit (between the rectangles both horizontally and vertically), there can be a three-way (brick) or four-way (grid) intersections of the units. These must be covered by patches 56 to prevent leakage. Figure 3 shows two possible SNAILGATE mating configurations: "brick" (upper) and "grid" (lower).

[0081] Materials

[0082] The physical prototype for SNAILGATE is made from WOOD PVC coated Cordura. Nylon was chosen as the barrier material for its impermeability. 2.5 cm (1") Nylon webbing was used for the tensioned members, because its high tensile strength prevents significant stretching. 2.5 cm (1") stainless steel D-rings were doubled up to be used as friction tensioners such that the dimensions could be dynamically adjusted of the physical prototype. Rivets were used to secure the D-rings to the webbing. Open-cell polyethylene (PE) foam was used as the float material (to provide buoyancy) and was sewn into the upper layer of the physical prototype.

[0083] The entire model was tested in a collapsible polyvinyl chloride (PV C) enclosure with PVC supports. SNAILGATE was attached to the enclosure via waterproof nylon zippers for ease of production and design iteration. Hook and loop closures 52 (Fig. 3) can be added to the prototype in high-stress areas to prevent seepage of water.

[0084] An adapter was designed and 3D-printed in poly lactic acid (PLA) to mate a heat- bonded value in the enclosure to a hose fitted with a standard NPT (National Pipe Taper) connector. The total cost of the materials was under $200.

[0085] Prototype Experiment Setup and Execution

[0086] Setup: The 3-unit SNAILGATE prototype was constructed in a flexible waterproof enclosure for ease of transport. D rings were used to set the length of the webbing at each layer. Waterproof zippers 50 were used to affix the flood barrier to the inside of the enclosure in order to enable repair and reconfiguration of the prototype. Finally, polyethylene foam floats 62 were sewn into the top 22 of the barrier to provide buoyant force.

[0087]

[0088] Table 3 is a Bill of Materials

[0089] Execution: The prototype unfurls for a water throughput of up to 76 liters / min.

[0090] SNAILGATE for Large Scale Flood Management

[0091] Flood management is a richly studied area and many solutions exist on the market already. These range from temporary solutions for minimal flooding (e.g., sandbags) as discussed in the introduction all the way to large permanent barriers designed to mitigate perennial flooding (e.g., levees and dykes). Larger public works-scale applications exist such as underwater tsunami barriers, which artificially extend the coastal shelf further into the ocean to dissipate a tidal wave’s energy further from the shore Scheel (2014). Smaller barriers tend to be less obtrusive, but require more upkeep and maintenance, while larger (permanent) barriers often impede mobility and are very costly (Table 1). SNAILGATE potentially combines the best of both worlds in the medium-scale flood scenario by proposing a rapidly- deployable, unobtrusive, low-cost solution.

[0092] The track of the BIGU to protect New York City is estimated to cost $1.5 billionSNAILGATE following the same track would cost roughly $1 million in materials costs, with the possibility of very rapid deployment.

[0093] Figure 4 shows SNAILGATE folded after the water recedes in the 3-Layer SNAILGATE. The barrier and the tensile lines lie flat, except that the floats have a small vertical height.

[0094] Although the invention has been described in detail in the foregoing embodiments for the purpose of illustration, it is to be understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention except as it may be described by the following claims.

[0095] References, all of which are incorporated by reference, herein.

[0096] Bignami, D.F., Rosso, R., Sanfilippo, U., 2019. Temporary Flood Proofing Devices Analysis. Springer International Publishing, Cham. pp. 141-224. URL: https: / / doi.org / ! 0.1007 / 978-3-030-05934-7_9, doi: 10.1007 / 978-3-030-05934-7_9.

[0097] quickdams.com, 2022, Watergate product flier. Brochure, URL: https: / / quickdams.com / wp-content / uploads / 2021 / 01 / QuickDam_WaterGate_Flyer.pdf.

[0098] Scheel, H.J., 2014. New type of tsunami barrier. Natural Hazards 70, 951-956, URL: https: / / doi.org / 10.1007 / sll069-013-0834-4, doi:10.1007 / si 1069-013-0834-4.

[0099] Shanahan, E., Wong, A., 2021. Heavy rains pound new york city, flooding subway stations and roads. New York Times URL: https : / / www.nytimes. com / 2021 / 07 / 08 / nyregion / flooding-subways-nyc.html.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system that separates a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid flowing from W to D comprising:(a) a set of flexible units, a first unit of the set of flexible units having a first barrier, a first tensile line connecting adjacent to a top and bottom of the first barrier, and at least a second tensile line connecting adjacent to an anchoring point;(b) the anchoring point on the W side of the first unit attaches by the second tensile line to adjacent to the top of the first barrier of the first unit;(c) a first attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to a second unit of the set of flexible units having a second barrier, the second unit above the first unit and having at least a third tensile line, the anchoring point attaches by the third tensile line to adjacent to a top of the second barrier; and(d) a second attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to a third unit of the set of flexible units, the third unit on one side of the first unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first unit is a bottom unit and the anchoring point for the bottom unit of the set of flexible units is on a surface such as the ground.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein an anchoring point for a unit U of the set of flexible units other than the bottom unit of the set of flexible units will be either the anchoring point of the bottom unit or a second anchoring point of another unit below U.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms is a zipper.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms is a hook and loop closure.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms is a sticky mechanism.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms are a combination of at least two of a hook and loop closure, a zipper, or a sticky mechanism.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein a flap closes any gaps left injunctions where the first or second attachment mechanisms of at least the first, second and third units meet.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein a flap closes any gaps left in the junctions where three units meet, because the units are laid out vertically.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein units of the set of flexible units are stacked on top of one another to at least four levels.

11. The system of claim 2 wherein when fluid arrives on the W side, the bottom unit deploys first and then the second unit deploys as more fluid arrives.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein as fluid recedes on the W side, the second unit folds first and then the bottom unit folds after the second unit folds.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the first barrier is pinned in an unfurled state.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the top of the first barrier has a float which causes the top of the first barrier to rise as the level of the fluid rises on the W side.

15. A system which separates fluid on a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid from flowing from W to D comprising:a first flexible unit having an expandable and contractable first barrier which limits fluid flow from W to D; and at least a second flexible unit having an expandable and contractable second barrier which limits fluid flow from W to D and is on top of the first unit.

16. The system of claim 15 including a junction between the first unit and the second unit which limits fluid flow from W to D and between the first unit and the second unit.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the second barrier has a top and a bottom, and including a float attached adjacent to the top of the second barrier, the float rises as the fluid rises and lifts the float so the fluid is limited from flowing over the second barrier, the float falls as the fluid falls causing the float to fall.

18. The system of claim 17 including an anchoring point fixed to a desired location on the W side, and a first tensile line attached adjacent to the anchoring point and adjacent to the top of the second barrier which limits movement of the top of the second barrier in a horizontal direction.

19. The system of claim 18 including a base anchor attached adjacent to a bottom of the first barrier which holds the bottom in place so the fluid is limited from flowing under the first barrier.

20. The system of claim 19 including a second tensile line attached adjacent to the top of the second barrier and adjacent to the bottom of the second barrier.

21. The system of claim 15, including a pulling mechanism in communication with the second barrier, which pulls the top of the second barrier to a desired height and holds the top of the second barrier at the desired height.

22. The system of claim 21 including at least n additional barriers, where n is greater than or equal to 1 and is an integer, and the n additional barriers stack on top of each other and above the second barrier, the pulling mechanism in communication with at least one of the first barrier, the second barrier, and the n additional barriers, the pulling mechanism pulls the first barrier, the second barrier, and the n additional barriers to the desired height and holds the first barrier, the second barrier, and the n additional barriers at the desired height.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the pulling mechanism is attached to a top barrier of the first, second and n additional barriers.

24. A method for separating a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid from flowing from W to D comprising the steps of: raising a top of a first barrier of a first unit with the fluid as the fluid rises on the W side, the first unit having a first tensile line connecting adjacent to the top and a bottom of the first barrier, and at least a second tensile line connecting adjacent to an anchoring point, the anchoring point on the W side of the first unit attaches by the second tensile line to adjacent the top of the first barrier of the first unit, and raising a top of a second barrier of a second unit with the fluid as the fluid rises above the top of the first unit, the second unit above the first unit, the anchoring point attaches by a third tensile line adjacent to a top of the second barrier, a first attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to the second unit, a second attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to a third unit, the third unit on one side of the first unit25. A method for separating a wet side W from a dry side D that prevents fluid such as water from flowing from W to D comprising the steps of: placing a first unit between the W side and the D side;connecting with a first tensile line a top and a bottom of a first barrier of the first unit; connecting a second tensile line adjacent to an anchoring point and adjacent to the top of the first barrier of the first unit, the anchoring point on the W side of the first unit; and connecting a bottom of a second barrier of a second unit adjacent to and above the top of the first barrier of the first unit, the second unit above the first unit, the anchoring point attaches by a third tensile line adjacent to a top of the second barrier, a first attachment mechanism extending from the first unit to the second unit, a fourth tensile line connecting adjacent to the top and the bottom of the second barrier.

Images