Concrete Block Recesses for Slope Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing concrete blocks used for covering water-retaining or water-guiding slopes lack sufficient interlocking and permeability, leading to instability and potential displacement under dynamic water pressure, especially when slight mutual displacement occurs between blocks.
Innovation Solution
The blocks feature vertically extending recesses with increasing cross-sections towards the upper surface, filled with grit, which enhances interlocking and stability, while the design includes a gradual taper for mold release and strategically placed recesses and edges to manage water pressure and flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blocks are placed with flat side surfaces against each other to form a honeycomb bond, then the covering provides permeability for water flow, but the blocks lack sufficient interlocking and may displace under dynamic water pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The block is divided into multiple functional surfaces: flat side surfaces for permeability and water flow, and recessed surfaces with protrusions for interlocking. This segmentation allows each surface to serve its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different surfaces of the block have different geometries tailored to their specific functions. The flat side surfaces maintain simplicity for water flow, while the recessed surfaces incorporate protrusions and ribs to enhance interlocking locally where needed.
2Reliability
If the circumferential surface includes recessed surfaces with protrusions for interlocking, then stability against displacement is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interlocking protrusions and recesses are pre-formed during the concrete casting process using a molded core. This preliminary action integrates the interlocking features into the block manufacturing without requiring separate assembly steps or complex post-processing.
Solution Approach 2:
A molded core is used as an intermediary tool during manufacturing to create the recessed surfaces and protrusions. The core simplifies the manufacturing process by allowing these complex geometries to be formed directly during casting, reducing overall manufacturing complexity.
3Reliability
If the block design includes vertically extending recesses with increasing cross-sections filled with grit, then interlocking and stability are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The grit-filled recesses are nested within the block structure itself, with the recesses forming integral part of the block geometry. This nesting approach integrates the interlocking mechanism directly into the block design rather than adding separate components.
Solution Approach 2:
The recesses extend vertically through the block with cross-sections that increase toward the top surface, creating a three-dimensional interlocking geometry. This dimensional variation enhances interlocking capability while maintaining a relatively simple overall block form.
4Ease of manufacture
If the block has a gradual taper for mold release, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the interlocking capability may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The gradual taper is applied locally to specific surfaces of the block where it aids mold release, while the recessed surfaces maintain their full interlocking geometry. This localized application ensures manufacturability without compromising interlocking capability in critical areas.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
Block, particularly of concrete, for with a number of identical blocks, forming a bond for covering a bank, coast or dike for protection against wave attacks, wherein the block is substantially formed according to a first, preferably regular prism having a first prism perimeter surface and a first prism centre line oriented perpendicular to the prism base, wherein the block comprises a circumferential surface having a circumferential series of side surfaces that in between them define corner areas that extend substantially parallel to the prism centre line, wherein the block in the corner areas forms contact surfaces for abutment against adjacent blocks in the bond, wherein the contact surfaces are situated on the perimeter surface of the prism, wherein at least a few of the corner areas are provided with a recess, which recess extends substantially parallel to the prism centre line from a starting location in the lower half of the block spaced apart from the lower surface to at least near the upper surface preferably up into the upper surface.