Prismatic Hydraulic Block With Through-Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for producing concrete blocks for hydraulic structures, such as dams and groynes, are inefficient due to the need for assembly of two pieces and high material consumption, leading to low production rates and high costs, while also requiring a large number of blocks per kilometer of structure.
Innovation Solution
A prismatic block with a polygonal shape and a through-opening that allows for single-piece dry casting, enabling increased production rate, interlocking capability, and porosity, which reduces the number of blocks needed and enhances stability and habitat for aquatic life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If blocks are produced by assembling two pieces (plate portion and beam), then the block shape can be optimized for strength and interlocking, but the production rate decreases due to the assembly bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the plate portion and beam into a single monolithic block structure. The block comprises a plate with projections extending from opposite sides, eliminating the need for separate beam assembly. This integration maintains the optimized shape for strength and interlocking while enabling single-piece production through dry-castable concrete, thereby resolving the contradiction between block strength optimization and production rate.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a large number of blocks are used per kilometer of structure, then the hydraulic structure can be built with sufficient stability, but the material consumption and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the block design into a compact monolithic structure with integrated projections that provide interlocking capability. This segmentation allows each block to be more efficient in providing stability per unit volume, reducing the total number of blocks required. The single-piece design with optimized geometry maximizes the stabilizing effect of each individual block, thereby reducing overall material consumption while maintaining structure stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If blocks are produced with complex shapes for interlocking capability, then the interlocking with adjacent blocks improves, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dry-castable concrete that self-sustains immediately after casting, eliminating the need for complex curing facilities or prolonged formwork. The monolithic block with projections is cast as a single piece using this self-sustaining material, which removes the assembly step and simplifies manufacturing. The complex interlocking shape is achieved through the casting process itself rather than through assembly of multiple components, thereby maintaining interlocking capability while reducing manufacturing complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A block (1) for building hydraulic structures, such as dams or groynes, the block (1) having a prismatic shape, with a bottom surface (2) and a top surface (3) extending parallel to each other and each having a polygonal shape, said polygonal shape being formed from a basic shape (5) being a regular polygon that comprises projections (6) each extending from a corner of the regular polygon (5) and being spaced from one another by recesses (7), and wherein the block (1) comprises a through-opening (12) that extends through the block (1) from the bottom surface (2) to the top surface (3).