Prefabricated Former Resisting Buoyancy in Underground Pump Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
The construction of subterranean pump chambers poses health and safety risks due to extended excavation times for shuttering assembly and is prone to buoyancy issues from hydrostatic pressure, leading to structural instability and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A prefabricated former comprising a floor former, vertical support elements, and a side wall with an inner and outer layer, allowing concrete to flow and set to form a unitary wall and base, which provides structural support and counteracts buoyancy, reducing the need for traditional shuttering and excavation time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shuttering assembly is used for constructing subterranean chambers, then the chamber structure can be formed, but the construction time is extended and health and safety risks increase due to operatives working in excavations for extended periods
Solution Approach 1:
The shuttering components (side walls, base, floor) are pre-assembled into a complete chamber structure at the manufacturing site before delivery to the construction site. This preliminary assembly eliminates the need for operatives to work in excavations to assemble shuttering, reducing construction time while maintaining structural integrity through factory-controlled quality assurance
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber is divided into modular components (side walls, base, floor) that can be manufactured separately and assembled into a complete structure. This segmentation enables off-site fabrication and rapid on-site installation, reducing the time operatives need to work in excavations while ensuring each component meets structural requirements
2Reliability
If polyethylene or GRP tank is used as waterproof liner, then waterproofing is provided, but significant groundwork is still required and shuttering around the tank is necessary before pouring concrete
Solution Approach 1:
The waterproofing function is integrated into the pre-assembled chamber structure itself through the polyethylene or GRP tank base and floor components, rather than requiring separate waterproofing layers. This merging of structural and waterproofing functions reduces construction complexity by eliminating the need for separate shuttering operations around the tank
Solution Approach 2:
The waterproofing components (tank base, floor) are pre-installed and integrated into the chamber structure at the manufacturing site before delivery. This preliminary integration eliminates the need for complex on-site waterproofing operations and reduces the construction process complexity
3Stability of the object's composition
If sufficient weight of concrete is added to counter buoyancy, then the chamber remains stable, but the overall structure becomes heavier and requires more material
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-assembled chamber structure with integrated base and floor provides optimized weight distribution that counteracts buoyancy forces. The structure incorporates sufficient concrete weight in strategic locations (base and floor) to prevent uplift while minimizing overall material usage through efficient structural design
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber structure utilizes curved or optimized geometric forms that improve structural efficiency and buoyancy resistance. The rounded or optimized shapes distribute hydrostatic pressure more effectively, reducing the need for excessive concrete weight while maintaining stability
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 enables rapid construction of a strong, stable subterranean chamber with reduced site preparation time, minimized operative exposure, and effective resistance to buoyancy, preventing chamber uplift and damage to surrounding structures.
Implementation Method 1
an opening being provided between the cavity and the space below the floor former enabling concrete to flow through the cavity and into the space below the floor former
Implementation Method 2
the space below the floor former, when filled with concrete, provides a strong and heavy base. This provides a ballast weight to resist buoyancy of the chamber caused by hydrostatic pressure
Data Source
AI summary
A prefabricated former for an underground pump station comprises: a floor former; a plurality of vertical support elements; a side wall secured to and surrounding the plurality of vertical support elements, the side wall having an inner layer and an outer layer defining a cavity therebetween, and an opening at an upper end of the side wall in communication with the cavity for receiving concrete, the side wall extending both above and below the floor former for defining a space above the floor former and a space below the floor former, and an opening being provided between the cavity and the space below the floor former enabling concrete to flow through the cavity and into the space below the floor former; when set, the concrete forming a unitary wall and base.