Asymmetric Brace Assembly for Geosynthetic Wall Stability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bracing assemblies for geosynthetic wrapped systems are prone to incorrect assembly, leading to potential catastrophic failures in stabilized earth walls and slopes, and are cumbersome to construct on-site.
Innovation Solution
A bracing assembly comprising standing, bottom, and cross brace bars with distinct configurations and connectors, designed to facilitate correct assembly and reduce on-site construction complexity, using non-metallic, rigid or semi-rigid materials like nylon or HDPE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If identical stabilizing bars are used in the bracing assembly, then the manufacturing process is simplified, but the risk of incorrect assembly increases leading to catastrophic failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetry by providing distinct configurations for different brace bars (standing, bottom, cross) with unique connector types and slot arrangements. Each brace bar has specific geometric features that prevent incorrect assembly, ensuring that only the correct configuration can be properly installed. This asymmetric design maintains manufacturing simplicity while eliminating assembly errors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by giving each brace bar specific localized features (different connector types, slot positions, and configurations) tailored to its specific function and location in the assembly. The standing brace has vertical orientation features, the bottom brace has horizontal features, and the cross brace has perpendicular features, ensuring each component is optimized for its specific role while preventing misassembly.
2Reliability
If complex bracing assemblies are used to prevent incorrect assembly, then assembly correctness is improved, but on-site construction becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the bracing assembly into distinct, pre-configured segments (standing brace, bottom brace, cross brace) that can be independently manufactured and then easily assembled on-site. Each segment is self-contained with its specific connectors and slots, making the overall assembly process simpler and less cumbersome while maintaining high reliability through the segmented design.
3Reliability
If distinct configurations are used for different brace bars, then the risk of incorrect assembly is reduced, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses asymmetry to create distinct, easily distinguishable configurations for each brace bar type. The standing brace has vertical slot arrangements, the bottom brace has horizontal arrangements, and the cross brace has perpendicular arrangements. These asymmetric features are simple to manufacture but provide clear visual and physical cues to prevent incorrect assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracing assembly for a geosynthetic wrapped system is provided. The bracing assembly includes a standing brace bar, a bottom brace bar, and a cross brace bar having different configurations to facilitate both easy and mistake free assembly of the bracing assembly. Furthermore, the standing brace bar and the bottom brace bar include guide tips that are sized and shaped to direct insertion of the standing brace bar and the bottom brace bar respectively into a weave of a geotextile fabric material such that a first connector of the bottom brace bar and a first connection slot of the standing brace bar are aligned together and with a fold line of the geotextile fabric material.