Monolithic Geotechnical Net With Oriented Polypropylene Ribs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geotechnical nets lack earth-retention capabilities, mechanical resistance, and are inefficient in terms of production and final costs, primarily functioning for drainage and filtration without effectively containing solid materials.

Innovation Solution

A net structure comprising continuous ribs and filaments with laminar surfaces, forming polygonal windows to allow passage of solid materials, made from oriented polypropylene plastic, which is coextruded and stretched to enhance mechanical properties and reduce weight, while eliminating textile filters to improve earth retention and drainage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If textile filtering elements are used to close openings, then filtration capability is improved, but earth retention capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltration capabilityVSAvoidearth retention capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes textile filtering elements from the net structure, extracting the component that prevented earth retention while preserving drainage functionality through the monolithic plastic structure itself

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a monolithic plastic net structure with inherent porosity defined by link dimensions, allowing liquid percolation while preventing solid material passage through the structural geometry rather than textile filtration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional production procedures are used, then manufacturing simplicity is maintained, but mechanical resistance and weight efficiency deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction simplicityVSAvoidmechanical resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state and orientation of plastic material through stretching and orientation processes, transforming conventional production into a method that achieves superior mechanical resistance and weight efficiency while maintaining manufacturing feasibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If net structure weight is reduced, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but mechanical resistance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveweight per square metreVSAvoidmechanical resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the molecular orientation and structural parameters of the plastic material, achieving higher strength-to-weight ratio through material optimization rather than simply reducing quantity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure through the monolithic plastic net with oriented molecules and specific geometric configuration, achieving enhanced mechanical properties at reduced weight

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 net structure effectively retains earth, enhances mechanical resistance, reduces weight per unit area, and lowers production costs while maintaining efficient drainage and filtration capabilities, facilitating easier disposal and improved load distribution.

Implementation Method 1

made from oriented polypropylene plastic, which is coextruded and stretched to enhance mechanical properties and reduce weight

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMolecular orientation: Anisotropy

Data Source

PatentEP2549023B1net structure for geotechnical use
Publication Date: 2018.07.04 TENAX SPA
  • EP2549023B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2549023B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2549023B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A net structure for geotechnical applications is described, in which a plurality of continuous ribs (2) arranged parallel along an axis of development (3) exhibit, at a first lie plane (6), a plurality of first continuous filaments (4), parallel and perpendicular to the ribs, and at a second lie plane (8) a plurality of second continuous filaments (7) that are parallel to one another. The net structure is monolithic and defines an internal volume (9) comprised between the first and the second lie plane (6, 8) sub-divided by the plurality of ribs (2) into channels (10) that are parallel to one another (10); the first filaments (4) are defined by laminar structures exhibiting flat surfaces (4a) substantially lying in the lie plane (6, 8) and a plurality of substantially rectangular windows (11) are present at the first and second lie plane (6, 8).