Foam Panel Pool Structure with Buttress
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing construction methods for below grade fluid containment structures, such as swimming pools and septic tanks, are inefficient and costly, often requiring heavy equipment and materials like precast concrete or rebar reinforcement, which can lead to high construction time and energy losses due to heat transfer with the surrounding soil.
Innovation Solution
A modular construction system using foam panels and splines, with a granular material to reduce hydraulic pressure and a polymeric coating for waterproofing, which forms a seamless, insulated structure that reduces soil load and energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If precast concrete or rebar reinforcement is used for construction, then structural strength is improved, but construction time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pool structure is divided into modular foam panels that can be pre-manufactured and then quickly assembled on-site. Each panel is a self-contained unit with integrated reinforcement features, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site concrete pouring and rebar installation while maintaining structural integrity through the modular assembly system.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses composite construction combining foam core panels with integrated reinforcement elements (such as metal frames or mesh embedded in the foam). This composite approach provides the necessary structural strength without requiring separate precast concrete sections or extensive rebar work, significantly reducing construction time while maintaining load-bearing capacity.
2Strength
If precast concrete or rebar reinforcement is used for construction, then structural strength is improved, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Modular foam panels can be manufactured off-site in controlled environments using efficient foam extrusion or molding processes, then transported and quickly assembled. This eliminates costly on-site formwork, rebar bending and installation labor, and concrete pouring equipment rental, while the standardized modules optimize manufacturing efficiency and reduce material waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite foam panel construction with integrated reinforcement provides structural strength at lower cost by replacing expensive precast concrete and rebar materials with lighter, more cost-effective foam composite panels. The reduced material weight also lowers transportation and handling costs, while the simplified assembly process reduces labor expenses.
3Loss of time
If foam panels are used for construction, then construction time is reduced, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The foam panels are constructed as composite materials with a foam core providing insulation and structural form, reinforced with integrated metal frames, mesh, or other strengthening elements embedded within the foam matrix. This composite structure maintains structural strength comparable to traditional concrete while enabling rapid panel assembly without on-site curing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular panel system distributes structural loads across multiple interconnected panels with integrated joining mechanisms. Each panel is designed with built-in reinforcement features and connection points that work together to create a structurally sound assembly, eliminating the need for time-consuming on-site structural work while maintaining overall strength.
4Use of energy by moving object
If foam panels are used for construction, then energy consumption is reduced, but structural durability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The foam panels use composite construction with durable reinforcement elements (metal frames, embedded mesh, or fiber reinforcement) integrated into the foam matrix. This provides long-term structural durability and resistance to degradation while the foam core provides thermal insulation that reduces energy consumption for heating and cooling the pool water.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular panel design allows for easy replacement of individual panels if damage occurs, maintaining overall pool durability through a maintainable modular system. The panels are designed with protective coatings and corrosion-resistant materials to ensure long-term durability in the pool environment while the foam core provides ongoing thermal insulation to reduce energy consumption.
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 approach significantly reduces construction time and costs by eliminating the need for heavy equipment and materials, while providing efficient insulation that minimizes heat loss and energy consumption, allowing for cost-effective maintenance of fluid containment structures.
Implementation Method 1
Such foam (e.g., expanded polystyrene) is lightweight, with a density of about 1 lb/ft3 (e.g., from 1 to 10 lb/ft3)... efficient insulation that minimizes heat loss and energy consumption
Implementation Method 2
The containment structure may further include a granular material (e.g., gravel, crushed stone, or the like) for reducing hydraulic soil pressure against an exterior face of the foam wall
Implementation Method 3
An interior face of the foam wall is further coated with a polymeric, plaster, cement, or other desired coating... seals a below grade interior space defined between the floor and the wall in a seamless water-tight configuration
Data Source
AI summary
Below grade fluid containment structures, which may include a foam floor and a foam wall extending upward from the floor, the foam wall being formed from foam panels and optionally a plurality of metal splines. A foam buttress is provided as part of or adjacent to the foam wall, for reducing pressure against an exterior face of the foam wall that would otherwise be exerted by the soil, in the absence of the foam buttress, which places a top portion of the soil at an angle of repose, to minimize inward pressure. A concrete footing can be provided below the foam wall, where the splines of the wall are vertically oriented in the foam wall, with a bottom of the splines anchored into the concrete footing. The interior surface of the pool or other structure can be coated with any desired finish coating.