Facing Element Fixing Portion for Reinforced Soil Membrane Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing reinforced soil structure fastening systems fail to effectively prevent water infiltration and membrane tearing due to wind pressure, leading to inefficiencies in stress transmission and integrity maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A facing element with a fixing portion featuring a contact surface and a tightening element to securely fasten a protective membrane to the external surface of the reinforced soil structure, providing a robust and cost-effective solution for membrane attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If simple friction action fastening systems are used for protective membranes, then ease of installation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to water infiltration and membrane tearing
Solution Approach 1:
A fastening element acts as an intermediary between the protective membrane and the facing element. This fastening element includes a fastening portion anchored to the facing element and a tightening portion that secures the membrane, effectively mediating the connection and eliminating the direct friction-based contact that caused tearing and infiltration.
2Strength
If robust mechanical connection systems are used for reinforcements, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system is segmented into distinct functional portions: a fastening element with a fastening portion for anchoring to the facing element and a tightening portion for securing the membrane. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of anchoring the membrane directly to the facing element or using complex mechanical connectors, the invention inverts the approach by first anchoring a fastening element to the facing element, then using this fastening element to secure the membrane. This reversal simplifies the overall system while maintaining strength.
3Reliability
If protective membrane is placed on the inside surface of reinforced soil structure, then waterproofing is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficult installation
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the conventional approach by placing the protective membrane on the outside surface of the facing element rather than the inside surface. The fastening element with its tightening portion enables easy external installation while maintaining effective waterproofing, reversing the traditional internal placement method.
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
The solution effectively prevents water infiltration and membrane tearing, ensuring efficient stress transmission and maintaining the structural integrity of reinforced soil structures while being easy to implement and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
a fastening element anchored in the facing element and a tightening element engageable with the fastening element so as to fix the protective membrane between said sealing element and said contact surface
Data Source
AI summary
A facing element (10) for reinforced soil structure comprising: —first face (12) comprising at least a connecting member (14) configured to connect to said facing element at least one reinforcement member intended to reinforce the reinforced soil, —a second face (16) on which at least a protective membrane is intended to be applied, said second face is opposed to the first face, said second face has an essentially plane surface and comprises at least a fixing portion, the fixing portion comprising: —a contact surface (18) projecting from the plane surface of the second face, —a fastening element (20) anchored in the facing element and—a tightening element (22) engageable with the fastening element so as to fix the protective membrane between said tightening element and said contact surface.