Lightweight Concrete Composition for Shoreline Soil Stabilization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional materials used to protect soil surfaces from erosion, such as heavy rocks and concrete, often sink into the soil due to their high density, potentially causing more harm than good, and existing solutions fail to provide effective stabilization without causing erosion or subsidence.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight concrete composition is developed, comprising cement, small aggregate, and organic material, with a density greater than water but less than the surrounding soil, which can be mixed and applied on-site or remotely to stabilize soil surfaces and prevent land loss from erosion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If heavy materials such as rock or conventional concrete are used to buffer wave and current action, then erosion protection is improved, but the materials sink into the soil due to high density causing subsidence and potential harm

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveerosion protectionVSAvoidmaterial density

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the density parameter of the concrete material by incorporating lightweight aggregates (such as expanded perlite, vermiculite, or recycled glass) and adjusting the water-cement ratio to achieve a specific gravity between 1.2 and 1.8, making the material lighter than conventional concrete while maintaining structural integrity for erosion protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention creates a composite lightweight concrete material combining cement binder with lightweight aggregates and optional organic fibers, resulting in a material that integrates the protective function of concrete with the buoyancy characteristics of lightweight materials, preventing sinking into soil while providing erosion resistance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of stationary object

If lightweight materials are used to prevent sinking, then soil subsidence is reduced, but the materials may not provide sufficient protection from wave and current action

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial densityVSAvoiderosion protection effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The composite lightweight concrete combines cementitious binder with lightweight aggregates and reinforcing fibers to achieve both low density (preventing sinking) and high strength (providing erosion protection), creating a material that simultaneously satisfies both requirements through synergistic material composition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies different material compositions or densities at different locations or depths within the erosion protection structure, with potentially denser material at the base for stability and lighter material at the surface for buoyancy, optimizing both sinking resistance and erosion protection locally

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If on-site mixing and application is used, then adaptability to specific soil conditions is improved, but the complexity of the stabilization process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to soil conditionsVSAvoidmixing and application process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lightweight concrete composition is designed as a universal material that can be applied through multiple methods (on-site mixing, pre-mixed delivery, various placement techniques) and adapted to different soil types and erosion conditions, making the material itself multi-functional and reducing the need for specialized equipment or complex procedures

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

The lightweight concrete composition effectively stabilizes soil surfaces without sinking into the ground, providing protection from wave and current action while maintaining soil integrity, and can be tailored to specific environmental conditions by adjusting its density and composition.

Implementation Method 1

a relatively new technique involves the use of lightweight concrete, a material which has a unit weight that enables it to float on water, yet still provide the structural support necessary to stabilize the soil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBuoyancy: Archimedes' Principle (Buoyancy)

Data Source

PatentUS9347194B2Lighweight concrete composition for soil stabilization, especially in shoreline and waterbottom areas

Publication Date: 2016.05.24 TRUSTON TECH

AI summary

A lightweight concrete composition is mixed from cement, sand, water, and organic material, and placed on an area of soil, proximal a body of water, to protect the soil from erosion and the like due to water action. Preferably, the organic material comes from the area in which the soil is being stabilized, and may include soil, leafy matter, and ground up wood, forming a particulate organic material. Preferably, the final density of the resulting lightweight concrete composition is greater than the density of the water in the body of water, and less than the density of the soil being stabilized. A representative density range is between 62.43 pounds per cubic foot and 100.00 pounds per cubic foot.