Structure Supported Containment Dike Flood Mitigation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional methods for fluid containment and diversion, such as sandbagging and permanent infrastructure, are costly, time-consuming, and inadequate for long-term fluid containment or diversion, especially in mitigating flood damage by preventing standing water intrusion.

Innovation Solution

The use of flexible containment tubes that can be filled with various substances like water, concrete, or expanding foam, which can be easily transported, assembled, and secured to form a resilient dike system, reducing the need for extensive materials and labor, and providing effective fluid diversion and containment.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If sandbagging is used for temporary fluid diversion, then fluid flow can be diverted, but monetary cost, time cost, and labor requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid diversion capabilityVSAvoidtime cost of filling and removing sandbags

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dike system is divided into modular sections where each section consists of a flexible containment tube that can be independently filled, positioned, and secured. This segmentation allows for rapid assembly and disassembly compared to traditional sandbagging, reducing both time and labor costs while maintaining effective fluid diversion capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible containment tubes are prepared and positioned in advance before filling with fluid or aggregate material. This preliminary positioning eliminates the time-consuming process of manually filling and stacking sandbags, as the tubes can be quickly deployed and secured to achieve the desired dike configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Duration of action of stationary object

If permanent containment structures such as tanks are transported and installed, then long-term fluid containment is achieved, but significant cost and man-hours are required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelong-term containment capabilityVSAvoidcost and man-hours for installation

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The containment system transitions from static permanent structures to dynamic, adaptable modular sections that can be configured as needed. The flexible containment tubes can be filled with various materials depending on requirements, allowing the same structure to serve different containment needs while reducing installation complexity compared to permanent tank installations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of rigid permanent containment structures, the invention uses flexible containment tubes that can be easily transported, positioned, and secured. These flexible shells provide effective containment while requiring significantly less installation effort and cost compared to permanent structures like tanks or concrete barriers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of manufacture

If flexible containment tubes are used, then installation cost and personnel requirements are reduced, but structural support is needed to maintain dike shape and position

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation cost and labor reductionVSAvoidsupporting structure requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supporting structures are integrated directly with the flexible containment tubes, combining the containment function and support function into a unified system. This integration eliminates the need for separate complex support frameworks while maintaining the structural integrity and shape of the dike sections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Support members act as intermediaries between the flexible containment tube and the ground, providing necessary structural support without requiring complex external frameworks. These support members are positioned within or against the tubes to maintain shape and position while keeping the overall system simple and cost-effective.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10889951B2Structure supported containment dike

Publication Date: 2021.01.12 P V FLOOD CONTROL CORP

AI summary

Flexible containment tubes form sections of a dike for fluid containment. Structural supports are inserted into the flexible contain tubes and the tube sealed to form structure supported dike sections. For example, a supporting structure may be configured with a given length and cross sectional diameter to provide structural support to a vinyl-coated polyester tube with a 12-36 inch diameter. The structure is sealed within the tube and, in turn, the tube may be filled with a fluid such as water to create structure supported containment dike. The length of the supporting structure may be selected based on the width of an entryway to create structure supported dike section of a give length that provide a seal across the entryways against floodwaters.