Retaining Wall Anchoring with Deadmen and Turnbuckles
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing method for anchoring retaining walls, which involves casting a concrete slab over the wall and underground, is cumbersome, material-intensive, and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
Attaching deadmen, in the form of vertical concrete columns, to retaining wall blocks using cables with turnbuckles to provide lateral support, allowing for adjustable tension to secure the wall.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a concrete slab is cast over the retaining wall and underneath the ground to provide lateral support, then the retaining wall gains stability, but the construction becomes tedious, cumbersome and material-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the anchoring system into discrete components: individual deadmen (concrete columns) spaced at intervals along the retaining wall, connected by cables. This segments the continuous concrete slab approach into modular units, reducing total material usage while maintaining stability through distributed anchoring points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the essential anchoring function from the massive concrete slab and implements it through smaller, targeted deadmen positioned at critical locations. This removes unnecessary material while preserving the lateral support function through strategically placed anchor points connected by tensioned cables.
2Stability of the object's composition
If a concrete slab is cast over the retaining wall and underneath the ground to provide lateral support, then the retaining wall gains stability, but the construction process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The deadmen are pre-formed as discrete concrete columns before installation. This preliminary preparation allows for faster on-site assembly compared to casting a continuous slab, as the pre-formed units can be quickly positioned and connected to the retaining wall via cables and turnbuckles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces adjustable turnbuckles in the cable system, enabling dynamic tension adjustment after installation. This allows the structure to adapt to soil movements and settling over time, maintaining stability without requiring re-construction or additional material installation.
3Quantity of substance
If cables with turnbuckles are used to attach deadmen to retaining wall blocks, then material usage and construction time are reduced, but the system must accommodate natural soil shifts
Solution Approach 1:
The turnbuckles in the cable system provide dynamic adjustability, allowing the tension in the cables to be modified as soil conditions change. This enables the structure to adapt to natural soil shifts, settling, and expansion/contraction cycles while maintaining proper tension and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the turnbuckle mechanism to change the tension parameter in the cables over time. As soil conditions evolve, the turnbuckles allow adjustment of cable tension to maintain optimal structural performance, accommodating environmental changes without compromising 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 method reduces material usage and construction time while providing effective load retention and stability to the retaining wall, accommodating natural soil shifts.
Implementation Method 1
a cable, such as a steel cable having a turnbuckle for ensuring proper tension of the cable
Implementation Method 2
Each rebar of the retaining wall may extend below the retaining wall into soil or aggregate in order to restrict the retaining wall from rotating
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed to a retaining wall system including a retaining wall having with at least one retaining wall rebar extending along a vertical direction, the at least one retaining wall rebar includes an end formed into a first retaining wall rebar hook, at least one deadman spaced from the retaining wall, each deadman including a concrete base extending along the vertical direction, the concrete base including rebar extending past the concrete base and having an end formed into a deadman rebar hook, at least a first hole at a top portion of the retaining wall and extending into the retaining wall to expose the retaining wall rebar hook, and a first cable attached to the retaining wall rebar hook and to the deadman rebar hook to support the retaining wall.