Stackable Surface Module for Thin Wall Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wall modules are unable to effectively absorb torsional and buckling stresses without losing integrity, and they require additional adhesive materials like mortar for stability, which limits their flexibility and increases material costs, making them unsuitable for high, thin walls and earthquake-resistant applications.
Innovation Solution
A stackable surface module with a three-dimensional design featuring interlocking points and recesses that allow modules to be stacked and locked without adhesives, providing lateral stability and bending resistance while allowing for flexible construction of thin, high walls that can absorb forces in multiple directions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If wall modules are joined with adhesive materials like mortar, then stability and strength are improved, but flexibility and ease of construction are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes adhesive materials (mortar, glue) from the wall construction system entirely. Instead of relying on chemical bonding, the invention uses purely mechanical interlocking elements that provide joint strength through physical engagement between modules, allowing for easy assembly and disassembly without adhesives.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall modules are designed with self-interlocking features where the modules themselves provide the joining mechanism. The interlocking elements automatically engage when modules are placed together, creating stable joints without requiring external adhesive materials or complex construction procedures.
2Strength
If wall modules are made thicker to increase stability, then bending resistance is improved, but material costs and device complexity are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The wall is divided into multiple thin modules that interlock with each other. Rather than using a single thick module, the system employs several thinner modules connected through interlocking elements, achieving the required bending resistance through the collective action of multiple segments rather than individual thickness.
Solution Approach 2:
The wall structure functions as a composite system where multiple thin modules work together to provide the strength of a thick wall. The interlocking mechanism creates a composite structure that achieves high bending resistance without requiring each individual module to be thick, thereby reducing material usage and complexity.
3Reliability
If wall modules are designed with interlocking points, then stability without adhesives is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring the entire module surface to be perfectly precise, the invention concentrates interlocking points at specific localized areas. These discrete interlocking points provide the necessary stability and connection between modules without requiring high precision across the entire module surface, making manufacturing more feasible.
Data Source
AI summary
A stackable surface module is provided for a wall surface that can be both erected and dismantled. The stackable surface module is especially useful in certain applications, such as for earthquake-resistant walls, a cupola, a bridge, a site fence, a noise protection wall, an upwind power station, a heat exchanger or a coastal protection wall.