Removable Tendon Tieback Assembly for Excavation Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tieback assemblies often encroach on neighboring properties during deep excavations, leading to increased regulatory and contractual issues due to their permanent presence in the ground, necessitating partial or full removal.
Innovation Solution
A tieback assembly design featuring an anchor and tendon system with threaded elements that allow for partial or complete removal of the tendon from the tieback assembly, enabling disengagement and withdrawal from the support of excavation system, while the anchor remains in the earth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tieback assemblies are left in the ground after completion of work, then structural support is maintained, but encroachment on neighboring properties increases leading to regulatory penalties and easement fees
Solution Approach 1:
The tieback assembly is divided into two separable components: an anchor that remains in the ground and a tendon that can be removed. The anchor includes a threaded element that engages with the tendon through a coupler, allowing the tendon to be unscrewed and extracted while leaving the anchor in place. This segmentation enables the system to maintain structural support during operation while allowing removal of the encroaching portion after completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The tendon, which extends through the support of excavation system (SOE) and causes encroachment on neighboring properties, is designed to be extractable. The threaded connection between the tendon and anchor allows the tendon to be unscrewed and removed from the ground, eliminating the encroachment issue while the anchor remains to maintain structural integrity if needed.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If tieback assemblies are designed for complete removal, then encroachment concerns are eliminated, but structural support and stability during excavation are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the tieback assembly into a permanent anchor portion and a removable tendon portion, the system allows the anchor to remain in the ground providing continuous structural support, while only the tendon is removed after excavation completion. This eliminates the need to completely remove the entire assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupler acts as an intermediary component that connects the anchor and tendon through a threaded engagement. This intermediary mechanism allows for controlled disconnection of the tendon while the anchor remains in place, providing a transition state where structural support is maintained during operation but encroachment is eliminated after removal.
3Ease of operation
If threaded elements are used for tendon connection, then ease of assembly and disassembly is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The threaded elements are extracted as separate, standardized components (threaded rod on the anchor, coupler with internal threads) rather than being integrally formed. This allows for simpler manufacturing of each individual component using standard threading processes, while still providing the benefit of easy assembly and disassembly through simple threading operations.
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
Facilitates the removal of the tendon from the tieback assembly, reducing encroachment concerns and associated fees, allowing for easier site reclamation and minimizing long-term presence on neighboring properties.
Implementation Method 1
The tendon threaded element threadably engaging the threaded bore through the first end of the body and the anchor threaded element threadedly engaging the threaded bore through the second end of the body
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect, a tieback assembly is provided herein for supporting a SOE, the tieback assembly including: at least one anchor; an anchor threaded element extending from an end of the anchor; at least one tendon threaded element; and, a coupler having a body with a threaded bore, the tendon threaded element and the anchor threaded element threadedly engaging the threaded bore. Furthermore, the tendon threaded element is provided with sufficient length to extend at least from the coupler to externally of the SOE so that a portion of the tendon threaded element may be engaged externally of the SOE to allow for disengagement of the tendon threaded element from the coupler. Advantageously, the subject invention allows for at least partial removal of a tendon from a tieback assembly, including removal of the tendon threaded element.