Eccentrically Prestressed Profiles for Quay Wall Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for stabilizing and relieving ground pressure on building structures, such as quay walls, are either complex, costly, or provide limited relief, and there is a need for a more efficient and controllable solution to manage soil pressure effectively.
Innovation Solution
The use of eccentrically prestressed profiles in the ground to create an earth pressure vault, where the profiles are supported at both ends and prestressed to deflect against soil pressure, allowing for controlled and targeted relief of ground pressure through the formation of arches that transfer loads into the deeper subsoil, with continuous monitoring and potential re-tensioning to maintain the desired deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a forward structure is placed on the water side to stabilize a quay wall, then the quay wall stability is improved, but the geometry of the harbor basin is undesirably altered and the technical complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of placing the stabilizing structure on the water side (forward structure), the invention places the prestressed profiles on the landward side of the quay wall. This inverted approach achieves the same stability improvement without interfering with the harbor basin geometry or requiring complex water-side anchoring systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the essential stabilizing function from the complex forward structure and implements it through simpler prestressed profiles on the landward side, removing the unnecessary complexity of water-side placement and deep anchoring while retaining the stability benefit.
2Stress or pressure
If a non-prestressed sheet pile wall is installed on the landward side, then the existing quay wall receives some relief, but the relief is limited and additional deformation or erosion is accepted
Solution Approach 1:
The prestressed profiles are pre-loaded with tension forces before the quay wall experiences excessive deformation. This preliminary anti-action creates an earth pressure arch that actively counteracts the soil pressure, preventing rather than merely responding to deformation and erosion.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the mechanical state of the profiles from non-prestressed to prestressed, introducing tension forces that fundamentally alter the stress distribution in the soil. This parameter change transforms the profiles from passive elements accepting deformation to active elements controlling and redistributing earth pressure.
3Reliability
If the quay wall is completely dismantled and replaced, then the structural integrity is fully restored, but the project becomes logistically complex and very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The prestressed profiles are installed and pre-loaded with tension forces before the quay wall reaches a critical state. This preliminary action stabilizes the structure in place, avoiding the need for complete dismantling and replacement while achieving sufficient structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the existing quay wall through complete dismantling, the invention recovers and reinforces it by adding prestressed profiles that work together with the existing structure, preserving the original wall while restoring its load-bearing capacity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If eccentrically prestressed profiles are used to increase the stiffness of a retaining wall, then deformations are reduced, but the profiles require anchoring in deeper subsoil which increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the stabilizing function with the existing support structure by anchoring the prestressed profiles to the existing quay wall support structure rather than requiring separate deep anchoring systems. This combining of functions reduces overall complexity while maintaining stiffness improvement.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This method effectively relieves ground pressure on building structures by forming earth pressure vaults that redirect and absorb soil pressure, providing a stable and permanent solution with continuous monitoring and adjustable prestressing, thus enhancing the structural integrity of quay walls and other geotechnical applications.
Implementation Method 1
tensioning the tendons of the correspondingly eccentrically prestressed profiles leads to a controlled and adjustable deflection of the profiles or piles against the direction of the acting earth pressure
Data Source
Figure 1a~2d
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a geotechnical method for the controlled shielding of soil pressure on a structure to be relieved in soil to be stabilized, characterized by the steps of: - inserting profiles into the soil to be stabilized substantially perpendicular to the direction of the soil pressure to be shielded, wherein the profiles can be prestressed by means of eccentrically arranged tendons, - tensioning the tendons, whereby the profiles are bent against the soil pressure, - measuring a resulting shear force at at least one end of the profile where the profile is supported, as a measure of the shielding achieved. The invention further relates to a geotechnical arrangement that arises when the method is carried out.