Flexible Flood Wall Using Membrane and Posts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flood mitigation systems are often cumbersome, require extensive logistical planning, and are not effectively deployable in areas with infrastructure challenges, leading to inefficiencies and high costs, especially in high-traffic and below-waterline locations.
Innovation Solution
A deployable flexible fluid retention wall system utilizing a textile and membrane wall with supporting posts, a base plate, and a trench for storage, allowing for quick deployment and secure sealing against hydrostatic pressure, with features like deadman assemblies and adjustable post spacing for enhanced strength and cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rigid mechanical flood doors are stored at point-of-use, then flood protection reliability is improved, but infrastructure modification requirements and storage space needs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane wall instead of rigid mechanical doors. The membrane is a thin-film structure that can be stored in a compact rolled configuration within a shallow trench at point-of-use, eliminating the need for large storage spaces and extensive infrastructure modifications while maintaining flood protection capability when deployed
Solution Approach 2:
The flood protection system is segmented into modular components: a flexible membrane wall, supporting posts, a shallow trench, and a cover. This segmentation allows the system to be installed in a minimally invasive manner with small individual components that require minimal infrastructure modification, yet work together to provide reliable flood protection
2Volume of moving object
If flexible membrane walls are used, then storage volume is reduced, but structural strength to resist hydrostatic pressure must be maintained
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane is designed as a thin-film structure optimized for minimal stress distribution when deployed. The membrane geometry and material properties are engineered to efficiently transfer hydrostatic pressure loads to the supporting posts, allowing compact storage while maintaining structural strength during flood events
Solution Approach 2:
Supporting posts serve as intermediary elements between the flexible membrane and the ground. These posts receive and distribute the hydrostatic pressure loads from the membrane wall to the ground, enabling the use of a lightweight, compact-storing flexible membrane while maintaining the necessary structural strength to resist flood pressures
3Loss of time
If rapid deployment is enabled, then response time to flooding events is reduced, but deployment complexity and training requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system is pre-positioned in a ready-to-deploy state with the membrane rolled and stored in a shallow trench at the exact point-of-use location. All components are pre-assembled and positioned before flooding events occur, eliminating the need for complex logistical coordination and extensive training during emergency deployment situations
Solution Approach 2:
The shallow trench structure serves as both the storage container and the deployment mechanism. The trench itself provides the framework for positioning the membrane and supporting posts, eliminating the need for separate complex deployment equipment or procedures. The system is designed to be self-contained and self-deploying with minimal human intervention
Data Source
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AI summary
A novel design and construed on method for the creation of a deployable flexible flood mitigation wall manufactured from textile and membrane materials. The flexible flood mitigation wall system comprises a textile/membrane wall and support posts configured to be movable between a stowed position and a deployed position and wherein, in the deployed position, the wall forms a leak-free barrier against flood water or other fluids. A series of posts that are manually deployed is used to support the fabric wall when hydrostatically challenged, and transfer loads to the ground.