Prefabricated Railway Support Module for Grassed Track Drainage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Urban tram networks require heavy infrastructure with bare railway lines that are aesthetically unpleasing and pose challenges in maintaining grassed surfaces due to compartmentalization, leading to water stagnation and turf loss from environmental stresses.
Innovation Solution
A prefabricated railway support module with channel-shaped buckets and transverse connecting means allows for grassed substrate contact with the ground, incorporating reinforced concrete stringers and anchor saddles for rail support, enabling effective drainage and reduced maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If concrete slabs are made under the track for surface grassing, then the railway infrastructure is stable and load-bearing, but the grassed substrate is isolated from the natural ground causing water stagnation and drainage problems
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into modular support elements with channel-shaped buckets that can be assembled in segments along the track, allowing water to pass through between modules rather than accumulating underneath a continuous concrete slab
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements use channel-shaped buckets with open bottoms that act as porous structures, allowing water to permeate through to the natural ground below while still providing structural support for the rails and grassed substrate
2Strength
If concrete slabs are used to support the track, then the infrastructure is durable and load-bearing, but the substrate height is reduced limiting grass development
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure transitions from a horizontal slab configuration to a vertical channel-shaped bucket configuration, allowing the grassed substrate to extend downward toward the natural ground while maintaining structural support capacity
3Device complexity
If the substrate volume is limited due to low height, then the track structure remains compact and installation is simpler, but lawn maintenance becomes complex and turf is vulnerable to environmental stresses
Solution Approach 1:
The channel-shaped buckets are pre-assembled with proper depth and configuration before installation, ensuring adequate substrate volume is already in place to support healthy grass development and reduce vulnerability to environmental stresses
4Manufacturing precision
If the support structure creates compartmentalization in height, then the track geometry is precisely controlled, but the grassed surface is isolated from natural ground contact
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom of the channel-shaped buckets is left open rather than closed with concrete, extracting the barrier function and allowing water and roots to contact the natural ground below while maintaining precise track geometry through the structured support elements
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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Figure 5~7
AI summary
The module (1) has a transversal connection unit (3) connecting support elements i.e. longitudinal beams. Jambs of the unit are extended between troughs (2) such that a transversal space is formed with an opening connected between volumes defined at top and below of the module. Bases of the troughs and the jambs are arranged in a same plane. Two axial end faces of the troughs at a same axial end of the module are vertical and in a same plane when the modules are coupled together in alignment, so that the discontinuity is avoided between inner side faces (21) of channels (20) of the troughs. : An independent claim is also included for a method for assembling a railway turfed on a grass surface. USE : Support module for supporting a railway (claimed) in civil engineering field i.e. construction of railways turfed on a grass surface, for urban networks of tram. ADVANTAGE : The module is used to constitute the support element such as longitudinal beams, carrying the railway so as to preserve each rail and each contact of the element with the ground with turfed on the grass surface, thus reducing weight of the structure and maintaining grasses to obtain sufficient moisture and stable surface, and hence ensuring natural conditions of development of the grass by avoiding the partitioning in height of the railway and allowing the turfed substrate on the surface to be in contact with the ground under the railway. The module simplifies realization of the railways in an urban environment. The channels of the troughs are in shape of dovetail during molding, so that the manufacturing of the modules are relatively simplified. The module avoids discontinuity between the inner side faces of the channels of the aligned troughs so as to avoid leakage of the fluid concrete during casting for realization of the support element, thus shortening the total time of intervention. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS : The drawing shows an axial cross-sectional view of a support module along an axis of a railway. 1 : Support module 2 : Troughs 3 : Transversal connection unit 20 : Channels 21 : Inner side faces.