Sound Wall Panel Stiffener and Ground-Mounted Post Design

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sound walls that use concrete footings for vertical posts or columns are costly and time-consuming due to the need for concrete curing and increased construction vehicle usage, and reducing the spacing between these posts can compromise structural integrity.

Innovation Solution

A sound wall design featuring laterally spaced posts with elongate panels that include a central member, flange, and fin forming a cavity for panel retention, along with an elongate stiffener member within the panels to enhance structural support, allowing for increased spacing between posts without compromising integrity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If concrete footings are used for vertical posts, then structural stability is improved, but construction cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidconstruction time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and eliminates the concrete footing component from the traditional sound wall structure. The posts are designed to be mounted directly on the ground surface using flange plates and anchor bolts, removing the need for concrete curing time and associated construction delays while maintaining structural stability through the ground-mounted flange assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of embedding posts in concrete (traditional approach), the invention inverts the mounting approach by having posts sit on top of ground-mounted flange plates. This reversal eliminates the need for concrete footings while providing stable support through the flange-to-ground anchor bolt connection system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If concrete footings are used for vertical posts, then structural stability is improved, but construction cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidconstruction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention removes the concrete footing element entirely, eliminating material costs for concrete, excavation costs, and formwork. The simplified ground-mounted flange system reduces construction costs while maintaining structural integrity through direct ground anchoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces expensive, time-consuming concrete footings with a simpler, cheaper ground-mounted flange system using steel plates and anchor bolts. This substitution reduces both material and labor costs while achieving the same structural stability function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Quantity of substance

If spacing between posts is increased, then material usage is reduced, but structural integrity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematerial usageVSAvoidstructural integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sound wall is segmented into modular panels that can be independently supported by fewer, more widely spaced posts. The panelized construction allows for efficient load distribution to the posts, enabling increased spacing while maintaining overall structural integrity through the modular assembly system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces stiffener members within the panel construction to provide additional structural support in the panel plane. This internal reinforcement allows posts to be spaced farther apart laterally while the stiffeners maintain panel rigidity and overall wall integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Device complexity

If panel spacing and post spacing are increased, then construction complexity is reduced, but panel deflection increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconstruction complexityVSAvoidpanel deflection

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The invention adds stiffener members as an internal dimensional element within the panels. These stiffeners run perpendicular to the panel face and provide structural reinforcement that prevents excessive deflection, allowing for wider spacing between posts and panels while maintaining panel rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The panels utilize composite construction with stiffener members integrated within the panel structure. This composite approach combines the panel material with internal stiffening elements to create a structurally enhanced assembly that resists deflection even with increased spacing between support points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS12104339B2Sound wall and method of constructing the same

Publication Date: 2024.10.01 AIL INT

AI summary

A sound wall and a method of constructing the sound wall. The sound wall includes a pair of laterally spaced posts, at least one of the pair of posts including: an elongate central member, a flange extending form the elongate central member in a direction substantially normal to the elongate central member, and a fin extending from the central member. The central member, the flange, and the fin may define a cavity for receiving elongate panels. The sound wall may include a plurality of elongate panels extending between the laterally spaced posts and stacked in an elongate direction of the elongate central member. End regions of the respective elongate panels may be retained between the flange and the fin. The sound wall may include an elongate stiffener member positioned within at least one of the plurality of elongate panels.