Modular Flood Wall Blocks with Interlocking Seals
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile flood wall structures are cumbersome to assemble, lack adaptability in size, and do not efficiently distribute water pressure, limiting their effectiveness in emergency situations.
Innovation Solution
Interlocking, hollow modular blocks that can be filled with water to enhance strength and stability, featuring protuberances and receptacles for secure stacking and sealing, allowing for easy adaptation to varying sizes and shapes of flood areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sand bags are stacked to form a flood wall, then the wall can be constructed to provide flood protection, but the assembly process becomes arduous and difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The flood wall is divided into modular blocks that can be easily connected to one another. Each block is a self-contained unit with standardized connection interfaces, allowing rapid assembly without the labor-intensive stacking required by sand bags. The segmentation enables the wall to be constructed by simply connecting pre-formed blocks together.
2Reliability
If inflatable walls are used to form a barrier, then the wall can keep water away, but the size of the formed dam cannot be easily adapted to accommodate different sized areas
Solution Approach 1:
The flood wall system uses modular blocks that can be stacked vertically and connected horizontally to create barriers of any required size and configuration. Each block is a standardized unit that can be combined in various quantities and arrangements, allowing the wall to be adapted to different flood scenarios and area requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The blocks provide both vertical stacking capability and horizontal connection capability, enabling the wall to expand in multiple dimensions. This two-dimensional expansion freedom allows the barrier to be scaled to accommodate different sized areas while maintaining structural integrity.
3Reliability
If inflatable walls are used, then the wall can form a barrier, but the structures are generally space intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The blocks are constructed with thin-walled hollow interiors that provide structural functionality without requiring large amounts of material or space. The thin-walled design minimizes the volume and weight of each block while maintaining the barrier formation capability, making the structures less space-intensive compared to traditional inflatable walls.
4Reliability
If interlocking blocks are used that can be stacked vertically, then the wall can form an airtight structure, but the blocks are not interconnectable horizontally
Solution Approach 1:
The blocks are designed with universal connection interfaces that function in multiple directions and contexts. The same interlocking mechanism that provides vertical stacking also enables horizontal connection, allowing the blocks to be connected in any orientation to form two-dimensional barrier structures of various configurations.
5Weight of moving object
If modular blocks with hollow interiors are used that can be filled with material, then the wall becomes light-weight for transportation, but the blocks are not designed to be stacked in an upwardly interlocking fashion
Solution Approach 1:
The blocks are segmented with standardized connection interfaces that enable easy vertical stacking. The hollow interior design maintains lightweight properties for transportation, while the external geometry includes protrusions and receptacles that facilitate interlocking when stacked, combining both lightweight and easy-stacking characteristics.
6Reliability
If blocks are stacked upon one another to form a dam, then the wall can provide flood protection, but the blocks are not lightweight
Solution Approach 1:
The blocks utilize thin-walled hollow construction that provides the necessary structural strength for flood protection while minimizing material usage. This thin-walled design significantly reduces the weight of each block compared to solid conventional blocks, making them easier to transport and handle while maintaining protective 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 modular flood wall system provides a lightweight, durable, and adaptable solution for flood protection, efficiently distributing water pressure and preventing leaks, while being easy to erect and transport.
Implementation Method 1
these blocks are actually hollow vessels that are filled with water in order to lend strength and stability to the wall structure itself
Implementation Method 2
each of the blocks is provided a seal structure on its adjoining surfaces to prevent the passage of water therebetween
Data Source
AI summary
A modular flood wall assembly having a relatively flat base member having a plurality of ribs extending therefrom. The assembly further comprises a plurality of interconnectable blocks, with each block having a top surface with at least one hollow protuberance, at least one side wall, a hollow interior, and a bottom surface having at least one hollow cavity. The cavities on the bottom surface of the blocks are matable with the ribs on the base member. The protuberances on the top surface of the blocks are matable with the receptacles on the bottom surface of a corresponding block.