Inclined Flood Barrier Module Anchored by Internal Water Weight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing flood barriers are either heavy and difficult to install/remove, or they fail due to water saturation and softening of the underlying ground, making them unsuitable for temporary and efficient flood containment.
Innovation Solution
A lightweight, easy-to-install flood barrier with a rigid front wall inclined at 20 degrees and holes to allow water entry, which is anchored by its own weight and can be easily disassembled and stored, using materials like plywood, metal, or plastic, and can be enhanced with stakes or placed in a shallow pit for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a temporary flood barrier is fixed to the ground by spikes or similar means, then it can be initially effective, but it eventually fails due to water saturation and softening of the underlying ground
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of water saturation into a beneficial anchoring mechanism. When floodwater enters the barrier through inlet holes, it fills the interior chamber and saturates the ground beneath the barrier. This saturation causes the ground to soften and expand, creating a suction effect that firmly anchors the barrier to the ground, preventing it from being displaced by flood forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state of the ground from dry to saturated, transforming it from a potentially unstable medium into a firm anchoring substrate. The water saturation alters the ground's mechanical properties, increasing its adhesion to the barrier base and converting a weakness (softening) into a strength (improved anchoring).
2Reliability
If a sandbag barrier is used to block flood waters, then it is largely unaffected by water saturation and softening of the underlying ground, but it is heavy and difficult, expensive, and time consuming to erect and remove
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of heavy sandbags with a lightweight structural barrier. Instead of relying on the weight of thousands of pounds of sandbags to resist flood forces, the design uses a rigid or semi-rigid wall structure that is anchored through hydrostatic pressure and ground suction effects, dramatically reducing the physical handling requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses hydraulic principles to achieve anchoring. Floodwater entering the barrier creates hydrostatic pressure that pushes the barrier into the ground, while the saturation of ground materials creates capillary suction and adhesion forces. These hydraulic and pneumatic effects replace the need for mechanical anchoring systems.
3Reliability
If a permanent dike or flood barrier is erected, then flood protection is reliable, but it is not desirable to maintain a permanent or semi-permanent flood barrier in many circumstances
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic flood barrier system that can transition between deployed and stored states. The barrier includes detachable components and flexible anchoring mechanisms that allow it to be quickly assembled when flood threats are detected and just as quickly dismantled and stored when the threat passes, providing temporary protection where permanent structures are inappropriate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the flood barrier into modular segments that can be independently assembled and disassembled. This segmentation allows the barrier to be configured in different lengths and positions as needed, providing adaptability for various flood scenarios while maintaining structural integrity through standardized connection mechanisms.
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 barrier effectively contains floodwaters by retaining water within its structure, maintaining stability even as the ground softens, and can be easily removed and stored after the flood, offering a cost-effective and efficient solution for temporary flood protection.
Implementation Method 1
The front wall is inclined inward at an angle of at least 20 degrees from vertical, so that the pressure of flood waters against the front of the barrier will be directed partially downward, thereby helping to maintain the barrier in position
Implementation Method 2
the weight of the retained water within the barrier anchors it to the ground, even if the ground becomes softened, in a similar manner to a sandbag barrier
Data Source
AI summary
A flood barrier module that is light, easy to install, easy to remove or stow, and resistant to softening of underlying ground includes an inclined front wall penetrated by holes near a top thereof, as well as side walls, a rear wall, and a base wall, which together surround a substantially watertight interior. The module is initially anchored by its own weight and/or by stakes or similar means. When impacted by flood waters that rise higher than the holes, the module is filled with flood water that is retained within the interior, such that the weight of the retained water anchors it to the ground, even if the ground becomes softened. Embodiments can be folded or disassembled and stacked into a flat, stowed configuration. The module can be installed in a sump or pit, and can be at or below grade when stowed.