In Situ Guardrail Post Resistance Testing Machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for testing the resistance of soil or anchorage structures to deflection of motorway guardrail posts are inaccurate and costly, as they require transporting large soil samples to a laboratory for analysis, which is not representative of in situ conditions.

Innovation Solution

A machine for in situ analysis of soil or anchorage structure resistance to deflection, featuring a support frame with a pair of guides, a slide for detecting resisting force, and both hydraulic and pneumatic means for quasi-static and dynamic resistance testing, allowing for on-site evaluation of post deflection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If soil samples are transported to a laboratory for resistance testing, then the testing can be performed in a controlled environment, but the costs increase and the results become inaccurate due to loss of in situ conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of resistance testingVSAvoidcost of testing
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The testing machine enables the soil or anchorage structure to test itself in situ, eliminating the need to transport samples to a laboratory. The device performs resistance analysis directly at the installation site, allowing the structure to provide its own testing environment and maintaining accurate in situ conditions while reducing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the testing function from the laboratory environment and brings it to the field site. By removing the need to transport soil samples and performing tests in place, the device eliminates the harmful effects of sample transport and maintains the integrity of in situ conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If large soil samples are transported from the installation site to the laboratory, then comprehensive testing can be performed, but the transportation costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of testingVSAvoidtransportation cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The machine enables complete resistance testing to be performed at the installation site without transporting soil samples. The device includes all necessary components (hydraulic system, sensors, frame) to conduct comprehensive quasi-static and dynamic resistance analysis in situ, eliminating transportation costs while maintaining testing completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If the machine uses both hydraulic and pneumatic driving means for the slide, then both quasi-static and dynamic resistance analysis can be performed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapability for quasi-static and dynamic testingVSAvoidcomplexity of driving mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The machine employs a multi-functional design where a single testing device can perform both quasi-static resistance analysis (using hydraulic driving means) and dynamic resistance analysis (using pneumatic driving means). This universal capability allows the same apparatus to conduct multiple types of resistance testing without requiring separate specialized equipment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables accurate and cost-effective analysis of soil or structure resistance to both quasi-static and dynamic deflections of motorway guardrail posts, reducing costs and improving the understanding of soil and structure effects on guardrail performance.

Implementation Method 1

first means for driving the slide, suitable for slowly driving the slide between the backward position and the advanced position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 2

second means for driving the slide, suitable for rapidly driving the slide from the backward position to the advanced position

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic: Gas Compressor

Implementation Method 3

a slide provided with means for detecting the resisting force opposed by the post

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectForce detection: Force

Data Source

PatentEP2455739B1Machine for the analysis of the resistance of soil, or of an anchorage structure, to the deflection of a post for a motorway guardrail.
Publication Date: 2017.11.29 SOC INIZIATIVE NAT AUTOSTRADALI S I N A SPA
  • EP2455739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2455739B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2455739B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A description is given of a machine for the analysis, in situ, of the resistance of the soil, or of a restraining structure, to the deflexion of a post of a motorway guardrail, comprising a support frame (10). The support frame carries an analysis device (20) comprising a pair of guides (21), a slide (22) provided with means (24) for detecting the resisting force opposed by the post and sliding along the guides (21) between a rest or backward position and a work or advanced position, first means (25) for driving the slide (22), suitable for slowly driving the slide between the backward position and the advanced position, thereby performing a quasi-static resistance analysis, and second means (26) for driving the slide (22), suitable for rapidly driving the slide from the backward position to the advanced position, thereby performing a dynamic resistance analysis.