Modular Storm Water System Using Corbel Columns
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Urban development leads to impervious surfaces that cause urban runoff, contaminating receiving waters, necessitating effective storm water management systems that can replicate natural surface features for retention, detention, infiltration, and conveyance.
Innovation Solution
A modular storm water management system comprising connecting columns and slabs, arranged to form a network that can perform functions such as retention, detention, infiltration, and conveyance, by distributing water through duct-like structures and allowing infiltration into the underlying soil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If natural surfaces are replaced with impervious surfaces for urban development, then construction efficiency and land utilization are improved, but storm water runoff and surface contamination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the impervious surface into modular sections with integrated subsurface structures. Connecting columns and slabs create segmented flow paths that allow water to infiltrate through multiple access points distributed across the surface, transforming the single impervious layer into a multi-functional segmented system that maintains construction efficiency while reducing runoff.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested structures where connecting columns are positioned within the subsurface space beneath impervious surfaces, and slabs are nested between columns. This nested arrangement allows the storm water management system to be integrated within the existing urban development footprint without requiring additional surface area, thereby maintaining land utilization efficiency while providing infiltration capacity.
2Ease of operation
If modular components are used to construct storm water management systems, then ease of assembly and adaptability are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into standardized modular components including connecting columns with corbels and slabs that can be manufactured separately and assembled on-site. This segmentation enables pre-fabrication of components with precise dimensions and features, simplifying the assembly process while the standardization of these modules across different system configurations reduces overall manufacturing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connecting columns and slabs are designed as universal components that can serve multiple functions: structural support, storm water infiltration, and integration with various impervious surface types. This multi-functionality reduces the number of different component types needed, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining ease of assembly through consistent connection methods across all modules.
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 system effectively manages storm water by collecting and releasing it slowly, reducing surface contamination and mimicking natural surface functions, thereby mitigating urban runoff issues.
Implementation Method 1
Each of the plurality of connecting columns can further include a first corbel, a second corbel, a third corbel, and a fourth corbel. The first corbel extends from an outside surface of a first one of the pair of opposing side walls. The first corbel includes a shelf surface and an abutment surface. In use, the shelf surface of the first corbel faces toward an underlying surface that supports the storm water management system.
Data Source
AI summary
A storm water management system and methods of assembling the same are provided. The system has open columns having corbels that support a slab spanning between adjacent columns. The system is assembled by positioning a first plurality of slabs end-to-end and spaced apart from a second plurality of slabs. The column is seated into an opening formed between the first and second plurality of slabs. A first corbel extends from a first side of the column and over laps an edge portion of a slab of the first plurality. A second corbel extends from a second side of the column and over laps an edge portion of a slab of the second plurality.