Humped Tunnel Cover Structure for Easier Ventilation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunnel structures face limitations in ventilation due to ropes or straps preventing cover material movement, leading to restricted ventilation and rainwater collection, which can cause damage and complexity in adjusting ventilation levels.
Innovation Solution
The tunnel structure features arcuate cover support hoops with upwardly projecting humps forming a ridge, allowing the cover material to be rolled up easily without loosening anchor ropes or straps, and directing rainwater away from the material, reducing the need for double skins and simplifying ventilation adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover material is rolled up to increase ventilation, then ventilation is improved, but rainwater collects on the cover material causing damage and structural loading
Solution Approach 1:
The cover support members are given a curved profile with an upwardly projecting hump that creates a ridge in the cover material. This curvature design causes rainwater to naturally drain off the peaked ridge area rather than collecting on flat surfaces, eliminating the harmful water collection effect while preserving the ventilation benefit of rolled-up cover material.
2Stability of the object's composition
If ropes or straps are used to secure cover material, then the cover is anchored firmly, but the tension in ropes or straps prevents movement of rolled up cover material
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful effect of rope/strap tension is eliminated by extracting the anchoring function from the tensioned rope system and relocating it to friction-based engagement with the humped cover support members. The ropes or straps are no longer needed to maintain tension for anchoring, freeing the cover material to move easily when rolled up while still maintaining secure anchoring through the hump engagement.
Solution Approach 2:
The humped cover support members act as an intermediary mechanism between the cover material and the anchoring system. Instead of ropes directly tensioning the cover, the humps provide a friction-based interface that secures the cover when needed but allows easy movement when rolled, mediating between the conflicting requirements of stability and operability.
3Ease of operation
If tension in anchor ropes is released to allow cover movement, then ventilation adjustment is easier, but rainwater collection increases and complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The complex tension-adjustment mechanism is extracted and replaced by a simple friction-based anchoring system. The humped cover support members provide automatic anchoring through friction engagement, eliminating the need for complex tension adjustment mechanisms while maintaining ease of operation for ventilation control.
Data Source
AI summary
A tunnel structure (10) is described comprising a plurality of cover support members (14) and a cover material (16) supported by and extending over the cover support members (14), the cover support members (14) being of generally arcuate profile and including an upwardly projecting hump (14c), the humps (14c) of the cover support members (14) being aligned with one another such that the cover material (16) defines a ridge (16a) having sides that are more steeply sloped, in use, than the parts of the cover material (16) adjacent the ridge (16a).