Long-Side Soil Bag Stacking for Cost-Effective Retaining Walls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing retaining wall structures using soil bags are costly, require a large number of bags, and lack sufficient strength to withstand harsh environmental conditions such as strong rain and wind, leading to potential damage.

Innovation Solution

A retaining wall structure is constructed by stacking soil bags with long side surfaces facing the ground and short side surfaces in a lateral direction, using fewer soil bags, and incorporating an auxiliary retaining wall with a geogrid or non-woven fabric to enhance strength and drainage, while optionally using connection plates and fixing nets for stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional soil bags are stacked with top and bottom surfaces contacting each other, then the retaining wall can be constructed, but a large number of soil bags are required and construction cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of soil bagsVSAvoidconstruction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies asymmetry by changing the stacking orientation from conventional top-bottom surface contact to long-side surface contact. This asymmetric arrangement allows the long side surfaces (with larger area) to contact each other, creating better interlocking and load distribution, thereby reducing the total number of bags needed while maintaining structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from two-dimensional stacking (top-bottom contact) to three-dimensional interlocking by having long side surfaces contact each other in the vertical direction. This dimensional change creates a more stable structure with better weight distribution, reducing the quantity of bags required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Strength

If connection fixing components are installed between adjacent bags, then bags are fixed more firmly, but the retaining wall still lacks sufficient strength to withstand strong rain and wind

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestrength against rain and windVSAvoidresistance to harsh environment

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs composite materials by combining soil bags with geogrids (synthetic reinforcement materials). The geogrids are embedded within the soil bag structure, creating a composite system where the geogrid provides tensile strength and reinforcement, while the soil provides mass and stability. This composite structure significantly enhances resistance to environmental forces like rain and wind

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the retaining wall into multiple layers with geogrids placed at specific intervals between soil bag layers. This segmentation allows the geogrid reinforcement to be distributed effectively throughout the structure, providing strength at critical levels while maintaining the modular soil bag construction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-generated harmful factors

If soil bags are arranged with longitudinal sides contacting each other, then the retaining wall can be constructed, but drainage effect is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrainage effectVSAvoidwater drainage capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates porous drainage pipes within the soil bag structure, allowing water to permeate through the retaining wall. The porous nature of these drainage components enables effective water removal while maintaining the structural integrity of the soil bag assembly, preventing water accumulation that could compromise stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Data Source

PatentUS12404650B2Retaining wall structure

Publication Date: 2025.09.02 KIM HUN SU

AI summary

A retaining wall structure of the present invention is a retaining wall structure comprising soil bags, each including: top and bottom surface portions having the largest area among surfaces constituting a soil bag body; and long side surface portions and short side surface portions forming side surfaces of the soil bag body between the top and bottom surface portions, wherein each of the long side surface portions of the soil bags is arranged to face the ground, the soil bags are stacked such that the long side surface portions are in contact with each other in the vertical direction with respect to the ground, the soil bags are arranged such that the short side surface portions are in contact with each other in the lateral direction with respect to the ground, and auxiliary retaining walls that are respectively disposed behind the stacked soil bags are provided.