Inclined Shade Structure With Balancing Walls for Wind Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shade houses installed in areas with strong winds require heavy anchoring, which is undesirable in terms of ease of installation, land use, and costs, and existing solutions do not effectively mitigate wind resistance.
Innovation Solution
A shade house design featuring an inclined roof structure with posts and balancing walls that transmit wind forces, reducing the bending moment at the anchor point by creating an antagonistic moment, thereby allowing for lighter ground anchoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If heavy anchoring is used to withstand strong winds, then wind resistance is improved, but ease of installation and cost are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of wind pressure into a beneficial balancing moment by introducing balancing walls. These walls are strategically positioned to receive wind pressure that generates a moment counteracting the overturning moment from the main roof, thus utilizing wind force itself to enhance stability rather than merely resisting it
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing walls are pre-configured in the structure to create an opposing moment before wind acts on the roof. The walls are positioned and dimensioned in advance to generate a counter-moment that balances the expected overturning effect, preventing the need for excessive anchoring strength
2Reliability
If heavy anchoring is used to withstand strong winds, then wind resistance is improved, but cost is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of wind pressure into a beneficial balancing moment by introducing balancing walls. These walls are strategically positioned to receive wind pressure that generates a moment counteracting the overturning moment from the main roof, thus utilizing wind force itself to enhance stability rather than merely resisting it
Solution Approach 2:
The balancing walls act as a structural counterweight system, where the moment generated by wind pressure on the balancing walls counterbalances the overturning moment from the main roof structure, reducing the net anchoring force required
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the balancing wall closes more than 75% of the surface, then wind protection is improved, but wind resistance is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the blocking rate parameter of the balancing wall to be 75% or less. This specific parameter threshold balances two competing requirements: providing sufficient wind protection for the structure while maintaining enough wind permeability to allow wind forces to act on the balancing wall and generate the beneficial counter-moment
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
The design reduces wind sensitivity and anchoring costs, making installation easier and more efficient, while maintaining structural integrity even in strong wind conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the effects of the wind on the shade are attenuated. Indeed, when the wind blows from the side of the upper part towards the side of the lower part, the effect of the wind on the roof structure generally creates at the anchoring point (for example on the ground) a main moment which tends to tip the shade towards the upper part. However, the impact of the wind on the balancing wall simultaneously creates, at the anchoring point, an opposing moment which tends to tip the shade towards the lower part and therefore compensates, at least in part, the main moment.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 2D~2F
AI summary
Shade structure (10), in particular for the support of photovoltaic panels, comprising a roof structure (12) inclined so as to have an upper part (14) and a lower part (18), and a plurality of posts (24) for anchoring the roof structure (12) to the ground (22), said posts (24) supporting the roof structure (12) at the level of the upper part (14), the shade structure (10) further comprising at least one balancing wall (30) mechanically supported at least by one of the posts (24) and extending in the direction of another of the posts (24), the at least one balancing wall (30) covering 75% or less of the area separating these two posts (24).