Stabilized Damping Element With Recessed Foot Part

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing damping elements in water barriers lack sufficient stability to withstand wave forces effectively, leading to potential displacement and instability between adjacent elements.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a recess on the periphery of the foot part of the damping element, transverse to the longitudinal direction, which allows stabilization particles like grit to be trapped, preventing upward or downward displacement and enhancing the mutual clamping effect between adjacent elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If the foot parts are stabilized using tapered sides with wedge-shaped gaps for stabilization particles, then the damping elements can withstand water forces, but the stabilization particles can still displace upward or downward along the periphery, reducing stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresistance to water forcesVSAvoidstability of damping elements against displacement
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The recess is provided locally on the periphery of the foot part at specific locations where stabilization particles need to be retained. This local modification creates particle retention zones without changing the overall tapered shape of the foot part, allowing particles to be trapped at critical positions while maintaining the structural integrity and water resistance of the entire component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The recess acts as an intermediary structure between the stabilization particles and the foot part. It provides a dedicated space that mechanically interlocks with the particles, preventing their displacement along the periphery. This intermediary feature enhances the connection between particles and structure without requiring fundamental changes to the foot part geometry.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Force

If stabilization particles are used in wedge-shaped gaps between tapered foot parts, then mutual clamping effect is obtained, but particles have limited retention and can displace, reducing overall stability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemutual clamping effectVSAvoidstability against wave action
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The recess creates localized particle retention zones on the periphery of the foot part. These local features work in conjunction with the overall wedge-shaped gap to provide both the mutual clamping effect and reliable particle retention. The recess ensures particles stay in position at critical locations while the tapered sides provide the clamping force.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3277889B1Stabilized damping element, as well as water barrier having such damping elements
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 HILL INNOVATIONS
  • EP3277889B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3277889B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3277889B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A damping element (6) comprises, adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction (7), a head part (3), neck part (4) and foot part (5) of concrete, The cross section of the neck part transversely to the longitudinal direction (7) is smaller than the cross section of the head part, transversely to the longitudinal direction and is smaller than the cross section of the foot part transversely to the longitudinal direction, such that a system of channels (8) is formed. The foot part (5) has, over at least a portion of the periphery (18) thereof, a recess (15) directed transversely to the longitudinal direction. Together with the grit particles (16) accommodated therein., these grooves (15) provide a stabilizing effect.