Modular Block Paving with Removable Anchoring for Stable Installation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing block paving systems face issues with instability in dry conditions, loose blocks, and difficulty in installation on various substrates, particularly on stabilized mixes without complex drainage systems, and are not easily removable without damaging the underlying surface.
Innovation Solution
A modular system comprising modules with removable attachment means and polymeric filling material to create stable, customizable, and easily installable block paving, using dovetail coupling elements for secure connections and polymeric sand for joint stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If blocks with height of 5 cm are used, then the system is easier to install and has lower material requirements, but the stability of blocks in dry conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The base is divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, with the lower portion extending below the sand layer to anchor in the underlying substrate. This segmentation allows the block to achieve stable anchoring without increasing the visible block height, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and block stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The base extends vertically into a third dimension below the sand layer, creating anchoring depth rather than relying solely on horizontal sand embedding. This dimensional extension provides stability without increasing the horizontal footprint or block height above the sand layer.
2Ease of manufacture
If blocks are installed on stabilized mix without complex drainage system, then the installation process is simplified, but the risk of significant movements and lifting of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lower portion of the base is pre-formed to extend below the sand layer and anchor in the underlying stabilized mix or substrate. This preliminary anchoring action prevents future movements and lifting by establishing secure attachment before the paving system is subjected to load and environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The base acts as an intermediary element between the block and the underlying substrate, with its lower portion penetrating through the sand layer to establish mechanical anchoring in the substrate below. This intermediary structure transfers loads and prevents lifting without requiring complex drainage systems.
3Stability of the object's composition
If traditional block paving systems are installed, then the paving provides stable surface, but the installation and removal process damages the underlying surface
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means between the base and the underlying surface are designed to be reversible and dynamic rather than permanent. The lower portion of the base can be inserted and anchored during installation, then cleanly removed during dismantling, allowing the system to transition between installed and removed states without damaging the underlying surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The base and block assembly is designed as a recoverable component that can be completely removed and reused. The lower portion of the base is designed to be extractable from the underlying substrate without causing damage, enabling the entire paving system to be dismantled and relocated, with components recovered for reuse rather than discarded.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
System (1) for the creation of block pavings, comprising a plurality of modules (2), intended to be laid on the surface on which the paving is intended to be created, placed next to each other so as to obtain a sort of lattice. Each of the modules (2) includes a base (3), comprising a lower surface (4) resting on the surface intended for the creation of the paving, and a housing (5), open at the top. Each of the modules (2) also includes a block (6), inserted inside the housing (5), comprising, in turn, at least one face (7) intended to constitute the external surface (8) of the paving to be created. The base (3) of each of the modules (2) includes fastening means (9), of a removable type, to the bases (3) of the adjacent modules (2).