Modular Underground Water Retention Assemblies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current underground water retention and detention systems face challenges such as accommodating existing underground facilities, providing unrestricted water flow, and withstanding traffic and earth loads without structural failure, while also being cost-effective and efficient in material usage and handling.
Innovation Solution
The development of modular underground assemblies using precast concrete modules with unique configurations that allow for thinner components, enabling reduced material usage, weight, and cost, while facilitating easier shipping and handling, and allowing for unconstrained water flow through large interior and support channels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional underground water retention systems are designed to accommodate existing underground facilities and provide unrestricted water flow, then structural integrity and functionality are improved, but the systems become more complex and require more material
Solution Approach 1:
The system is divided into modular units that can be independently configured and assembled. Each module contains standardized components (walls, floors, outlets) that can be combined in different arrangements to accommodate various underground facility configurations while maintaining structural integrity and flow functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular units are designed with universal connection interfaces and standardized dimensions that allow them to adapt to different site conditions and underground facility layouts. The same basic module can serve multiple functions (water retention, flow conveyance, structural support) depending on its position and configuration in the overall system.
2Weight of stationary object
If modular assemblies use thinner components to reduce material usage and weight, then cost and handling efficiency are improved, but structural strength may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The modular units utilize composite construction combining reinforced concrete with steel reinforcement elements. This composite approach allows thinner overall components while maintaining adequate strength through the reinforcement network, reducing both weight and material usage without compromising structural capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The thickness and reinforcement of components are optimized locally rather than uniformly. Areas subject to higher stresses (such as load-bearing walls or flow-constrained sections) receive enhanced reinforcement, while less critical areas use minimal required thickness, overall reducing weight and material consumption.
3Reliability
If underground systems are designed to withstand traffic and earth loads, then reliability is improved, but material usage and system cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The modular units incorporate dynamic load distribution through their interlocking connection system. Loads from traffic and earth are distributed across multiple modules and connection points rather than concentrated in single thick components, allowing thinner materials to be used while maintaining overall load-bearing capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing the flow of water beneath a ground surface uses modules. Assemblies of such modules are disclosed. The modules include supports and a deck portion, and the supports are spaced apart and form multiple channels with a main section of the deck portion. The deck portion also includes at least one section extending from a main section.