Natural Pool Construction via Water Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing swimming pools, tanks, and artificial lakes face issues with localized soil yielding due to water pressure, leading to coating failure and increased maintenance and environmental impact, particularly when using conventional materials like concrete and steel.
Innovation Solution
A procedure involving excavation, subgrade preparation with sand or clay, application of nonwoven fabric and waterproof polymer sheets, and a stable coating layer using rounded natural stones or artificial materials with a binder, allowing water to directly contact the waterproofing layer and distributing the water pressure evenly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a coating layer is applied to prevent water pressure effects, then protection against soil yielding is improved, but the coating layer may crack or detach over time due to water action
Solution Approach 1:
A drainage layer is introduced as an intermediary component between the coating layer and the supporting soil. This drainage layer serves as a mediator that protects the coating layer from direct contact with soil yielding while allowing water pressure to be managed through controlled drainage, thereby preventing coating failure without compromising the protection against soil movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The protective structure is segmented into multiple functional layers: a coating layer for aesthetic and protective purposes, a drainage layer for managing water pressure and preventing soil contact, and a reinforcing layer for structural integrity. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally, with the drainage layer specifically addressing the issue of soil yielding while the coating layer maintains its protective role.
2Strength
If conventional materials like concrete and steel are used, then structural strength is improved, but environmental impact and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining natural materials (stones, pebbles, sand) with synthetic components (drainage layer, waterproofing membrane). This composite approach maintains the structural strength needed for pool construction while incorporating natural materials that have lower environmental impact and better aesthetic integration, thereby reducing the harmful effects associated with conventional concrete and steel while preserving necessary strength.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If natural materials are used for coating, then aesthetic integration and environmental impact are improved, but structural stability against water pressure may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The drainage layer acts as an intermediary that protects the natural material coating layer from direct exposure to water pressure and soil yielding. This allows the natural materials to be used for aesthetic purposes while the drainage layer ensures structural stability by managing water pressure and preventing the natural materials from being subjected to damaging forces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where natural materials (stones, pebbles) are combined with a drainage layer and waterproofing membrane. This composite approach allows the natural materials to provide aesthetic integration and environmental benefits while the drainage layer and waterproofing components ensure structural stability against water pressure, thereby resolving the contradiction between aesthetics and structural integrity.
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
This solution prevents coating failure, reduces maintenance and environmental impact, allows for varied shapes and sizes, and integrates naturally with surroundings while minimizing industrial product use, thereby lowering costs and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a waterproofing layer is subsequently installed. Said waterproofing layer is made of one or more sheets of a waterproof polymer material, such as PVC or other material of comparable characteristics and efficacy, e.g. sheets of EPDM
Implementation Method 2
fixing them stably in place with the aid of a suitable binder. Said binder is distributed evenly both in the interstitial spaces between the layer of coating stones
Data Source
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AI summary
This is a new procedure for making swimming pools and artificial lakes in general, comprising the following stages: the excavation of the tank; the preparation of a subgrade (S) by spreading the bottom (Tl) of the excavation (T) with a layer of sand (S); then the spreading of one or more sheets of nonwoven fabric (TS) on the inside surface of the excavation (T), over the layer of subgrade (S); the placement of the waterproofing layer (I) over said sheet(s) of nonwoven fabric (TS); the installation of the equipment needed for the proper functioning of said tank, swimming pool, etc; and the application of the coating (R) on the inside walls and/or on the bottom and/or around the edge of the tank, with holes or interstitial spaces (X) such that enable the water contained inside the tank to come into contact with said sheets (TS, I), wherein the thrust of the water contained in the tank thus comes to bear on said sheets (TS, I).