Modular Sheet-Pile Plate-Element With Segmented Tongue-and-Groove Joint

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet-piling systems are difficult, heavy, and time-consuming to install due to in-situ conditions, and suffer from damage and distortion due to alternating extension-and-shrinkage behavior of planks, which leads to fouling and clogging of expansion spaces.

Innovation Solution

A modular sheet-pile plate-element with a tongue-and-groove joint design featuring thick and thin tongue parts and wide and narrow groove parts, allowing for temporary and permanent interlocking conditions, enabling easy installation and accommodating expansion without requiring excessive force, while preventing damage from defilements and allowing for free expansion and shrinkage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional tongued-and-grooved planks are used with deep grooves at short sides to allow extension-and-shrinkage, then extension-and-shrinkage behavior is accommodated, but installation becomes more difficult, heavy, and time-consuming due to fouling of additional tongued-and-grooved parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextension-and-shrinkage accommodationVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The groove is segmented into different zones: a first groove part with standard depth for interlocking, and a second groove part with increased depth forming an expansion space. This segmentation allows the groove to serve multiple functions - structural connection and thermal expansion accommodation - without requiring additional joints that would complicate installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The groove has non-uniform depth along its length, with the second groove part having greater depth than the first groove part. This local variation in geometry creates expansion spaces at specific locations while maintaining standard interlocking at other locations, allowing the structure to accommodate expansion only where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If expansion spaces are created between planks to allow extension-and-shrinkage, then thermal expansion is accommodated, but the expansion spaces become clogged by soil, plants, and defilements over time, impeding extension and causing damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethermal expansion accommodationVSAvoidlong-term functionality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The expansion space is nested within the groove structure itself, specifically within the second groove part that extends deeper than the first groove part. This nesting eliminates the need for separate expansion joints or gaps between planks, as the expansion space is contained within the interlocking mechanism, preventing soil and plants from clogging it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The tongue acts as an intermediary element that moves within the groove's expansion space. Instead of creating open gaps between planks that can be clogged, the tongue provides a controlled mechanism for expansion and contraction within the protected environment of the groove, preventing direct contact with external contaminants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If tongued-and-grooved joints are applied at both long sides and short sides of planks to allow extension, then extension-and-shrinkage is accommodated, but installation becomes even more difficult due to fouling of all tongued-and-grooved parts by soil, silt, and mud

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveextension-and-shrinkage accommodationVSAvoidjoint complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The groove structure serves multiple functions: the first groove part provides standard interlocking with the tongue, while the second groove part provides expansion space. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate expansion joints or additional structural elements, simplifying the overall design while maintaining both connection and expansion capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The interlocking function and expansion accommodation function are merged into a single groove structure. Instead of having separate mechanisms for connection and expansion, the groove's varying depth combines both functions, reducing the number of components and simplifying installation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2998445B1Modular sheet-pile plate-element and method of installing a sheetpiling

Publication Date: 2017.10.25 LANKHORST ENGINEERED PROD

AI summary

A modular sheet-pile plate-element has at two mutually opposed plate sides a tongue (2) and a groove (3), respectively, for the purpose of a tongued-and-grooved joint between a first specimen (1) and a second specimen (1A) of the sheet-pile plate-element. The tongue has at least one thick tongue part (4) and at least one thin tongue part. The groove has at least one wide groove part (6) and at least one narrow groove part (7). During interlocking of said tongued-and-grooved joint the first specimen and the second specimen are reciprocally moveable (70) relative to one another between at least one temporary interlocking condition and at least one permanent interlocking condition. In the permanent interlocking condition gripping parts of the at least one thick tongue part (4) are restrained by the at least one narrow groove part (7). In the temporary interlocking condition said gripping parts are not, or to a lesser extent, restrained by the at least one narrow groove part.