Recycled Rubber Earthen Containment Panels for Erosion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing earthen containment reinforcement systems face issues such as cost, erosion susceptibility, compromise of waterproof integrity, and failure due to earthquakes or explosions, with no effective and economical solution that prevents soil erosion during overtopping.
Innovation Solution
A system of interconnected, pre-fabricated panels made from recycled rubber vehicle tire material with steel rim beads and rubber crumb, forming a watertight barrier wall that prevents seepage and percolation, anchored with polyurethane-based adhesive and erosion shields to divert overflow, ensuring structural integrity and resistance to earthquakes and explosions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional reinforcement systems are used in earthen containments, then the structure provides some reinforcement, but the system is susceptible to erosion, compromise by animals, and failure during earthquakes or explosions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a composite structure combining geosynthetic reinforcement layers with earthen fill material. The geosynthetic layer provides tensile strength and erosion resistance, while the earthen fill provides mass and structural form. This composite approach creates a reinforcement system that resists erosion, animal burrowing, and dynamic loads from earthquakes or explosions, directly addressing the vulnerability of traditional single-material systems
Solution Approach 2:
The geosynthetic reinforcement layer acts as a flexible membrane embedded within the earthen containment structure. This thin film provides continuous reinforcement that can deform with the structure during earthquakes or explosions while maintaining integrity, preventing the erosion and animal compromise that affect rigid traditional reinforcements
2Ease of manufacture
If vertical reinforcing structures are buried within earthen containment without anchors, then installation is simpler, but the structures can fail during earthquakes or explosions due to lack of support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the geosynthetic reinforcement layer directly into the earthen fill mass, combining the reinforcement and structural materials into a unified composite structure. This merging eliminates the need for separate anchor systems while maintaining reliability during earthquakes or explosions, as the reinforcement becomes an integral part of the containment structure itself
3Loss of energy
If overtopping is allowed in earthen containments, then water can be released, but the retained water washes away soil from the downstream slope compromising integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The geosynthetic reinforcement layer extends to the downstream slope surface, creating a protective film that prevents water from washing away soil during overtopping events. This flexible membrane remains intact under the dynamic loading of flowing water, maintaining structural integrity while allowing water release, thereby resolving the contradiction between water release and integrity preservation
Data Source
AI summary
An earthen containment reinforcement system has a plurality of connected panels containing recycled rubber vehicle tire material forming a retaining or barrier wall. The panels are connected by interlocking joints and include a rodent barrier for deterring rodent burrowing. An erosion shield having a proximal end connected to the top edge of each of a topmost panel of the interconnected panels, and a distal end extending away from the top of the interconnected panels toward a side of the earthen containment that is opposite a side in contact with water, wherein the distal end comprises an upwardly curved toe to prevent erosion at the base of the levee.