Segmented Soil Form System for Hardscape Load Support
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In dense urban landscapes, vegetation planted near hardscapes such as roads and sidewalks often struggles to grow due to soil compaction from construction loads, preventing roots from penetrating and stunting plant growth.
Innovation Solution
A soil form system comprising a base, legs, and top members that allow for the creation of a loosely compacted soil layer underneath hardscapes, enabling vegetation growth while supporting the weight of hardscapes and traffic, allowing soil to be poured through the system during construction and hardscape formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If hardscape is constructed using conventional methods with heavy loads, then the hardscape can support traffic and structural requirements, but the soil underneath becomes highly compacted preventing vegetation root penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the hardscape support function into separate components: the hardscape structure itself and the soil form system underneath. The soil form system is segmented into multiple cells that can be independently filled with loose soil, allowing the hardscape to be supported without compacting the soil in each cell.
Solution Approach 2:
The soil form system acts as an intermediary between the hardscape and the natural ground. It provides a structured container system that holds loose soil in place while allowing the hardscape to rest on the structural framework of the soil forms, rather than directly on the ground soil that would be compacted.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If soil is kept in a loosely compacted state for vegetation growth, then roots can penetrate and vegetation can thrive, but the soil cannot support the weight of hardscapes and traffic loads
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the load-bearing function from the soil medium function. The plastic soil form structure provides the load-bearing capacity needed to support hardscapes and traffic, while the loose soil filling the cells maintains its uncompacted state suitable for root penetration and vegetation growth.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a composite approach combining a structural plastic framework (providing strength) with loose soil (providing growth medium). This composite system allows both requirements to be met simultaneously: the plastic structure carries the loads while the soil remains in a loose, root-friendly state.
3Adaptability or versatility
If vegetation is planted in close proximity to hardscapes, then urban landscapes can have greenery in paved areas, but the vegetation cannot survive or grow to full extent due to compacted soil
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates discrete planting zones through individual soil form cells that can be placed anywhere hardscape is needed. Each cell is a self-contained unit that guarantees loose soil conditions, allowing vegetation to be reliably planted in close proximity to hardscapes without being affected by the compaction that would occur in conventional construction.
Data Source
AI summary
Soil form structure for supporting hardscape and corresponding vehicle, pedestrian traffic, and other loads while maintaining uncompacted or loosely compacted soil underneath. A number of cell structures may be coupled to each other, where each cell has a strong yet lightweight and open structure that can accept uncompacted soil, vegetation roots, utilities, and the like within at least approximately 85-90% of its volume, while also allowing hardscape to be poured or formed thereon. Thus, cell structures allow for hardscape to be integrally formed with the cell structures, without need for an underlying layer of highly compacted soil or other hardscape support.