U.S. patent application number 12/089722 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-08 for protective wall, dyke and method of producing a dyke.
This patent application is currently assigned to Terraelast AG. Invention is credited to Roger Hartenburg, Lothar Kromer, Berthold Lahl.
Application Number | 20090252555 12/089722 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39595932 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090252555 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hartenburg; Roger ; et
al. |
October 8, 2009 |
Protective wall, dyke and method of producing a dyke
Abstract
The protective wall (5) has a flat, tabular or cubic
configuration which has a section of a water-impermeable building
material. The building material of the protective wall is a
compound of compacted, mineral aggregates and an organic adhesive.
Mineral aggregates such as sand or gravel are building materials
which occur in plentiful amounts in nature and can be acquired
simply and inexpensively in large quantities on-site. Mixed with an
organic adhesive, the building material has a viscous consistency
and can be produced and processed easily. By means of appropriate
shaping, the protective wall can be configured in a variety of
dimensions, frequently curved. The protective wall is suitable for
sealing dykes to protect them against erosion in coastal or
liquid-side high-water protection.
Inventors: |
Hartenburg; Roger;
(Lampertheim, DE) ; Lahl; Berthold; (Kirchheim,
DE) ; Kromer; Lothar; (Grunwald, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OSLER, HOSKIN & HARCOURT LLP (OTHER)
1000 DE LA GAUCHETIERE STREET WEST, SUITE 2100
MONTREAL
QC
H3B-4W5
CA
|
Assignee: |
Terraelast AG
Sauerlach
DE
|
Family ID: |
39595932 |
Appl. No.: |
12/089722 |
Filed: |
April 5, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
April 5, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/DE06/00611 |
371 Date: |
July 2, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
405/15 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02A 10/13 20180101;
Y02A 10/11 20180101; E02B 3/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
405/15 |
International
Class: |
E02B 3/06 20060101
E02B003/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 10, 2005 |
DE |
102005048421.2 |
Nov 13, 2005 |
EP |
EP05024774 |
Claims
1. A protective wall, in particular for dykes of river banks and
coasts, comprising a planar, plate-shaped or cubic design, the
protective wall having at least one section which is extended in
the longitudinal and vertical directions and is made of a
waterproof construction material, the construction material of the
protective wall being a compound of compacted, mineral aggregates
and an organic adhesive.
2. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
construction material has higher flowability than freshly mixed
concrete in the uncured state.
3. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grain size
of the aggregates is 0.1 to 0.3 mm.
4. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the grain size
of the aggregates is 2 to 150 mm.
5. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mineral
aggregates comprise at least one of sand and gravel.
6. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adhesive
is an adhesive that can be cured under the effect of water.
7. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the adhesive
is one of a two-component epoxy resin adhesive, a single-component
polyurethane adhesive, and a two-component polyurethane
adhesive.
8. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
permeability coefficient k.sub.f of the construction material is at
most 5.times.10.sup.-10 m/s.
9. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the density of
the protective wall is greater than that of water.
10. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the
protective wall has an addition of steel.
11. The protective wall as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wall
thickness d.sub.w of the protective wall is smaller than the wall's
extent in height h.sub.w and length l.sub.w.
12. A dyke, in particular for river and sea dykes, comprising a
dyke body which essentially has a trapezoidal cross section, the
dyke having a dimensionally stable protective wall formed between
an inner slope and an outer slope and extending in the dyke
longitudinal and vertical directions; wherein the dyke has a
protective wall designed according to claim 1.
13. The dyke as claimed in claim 12, wherein the protective wall
extends right under the dyke body into a foundation.
14. The dyke as claimed in claim 12 wherein the protective wall
extends right into one of a dyke crown and ends at one of the inner
slope and the outer slope.
15. A dyke, in particular for river and sea dykes, comprising a
made-up dyke body and a slope on the water side and land side; and
a dimensionally stable protective wall being situated in front of
the water-side slope; wherein the dyke has a protective wall
designed according to claim 1.
16. The dyke as claimed in claim 15, wherein the protective wall
rests on the slope.
17. The dyke as claimed in claim 15 wherein the protective wall has
an angle of inclination .alpha. of 15 to 90 degrees relative to the
water surface.
18. The dyke as claimed in claim 17, wherein the angle of
inclination .alpha. is equal to a slope angle .beta..
19. The dyke as claimed in claim 12 wherein the dyke has a base
which is anchored in at least one of the slope a foundation and
carries the protective wall.
20. The dyke as claimed in claim 12 wherein the protective wall
extends from the dyke body into a foundation.
21. The dyke as claimed in claim 12 wherein the dyke has a
plurality of wall elements which adjoin one another in the dyke
longitudinal direction.
22. The dyke as claimed in claim 12 wherein the dyke has a
plurality of wall elements staggered in a depth direction of the
dyke.
23. The dyke as claimed in claim 22, wherein the wall elements
staggered in the depth direction have wall heights differing from
one another.
24. A method of producing a dyke as claimed in claim 12 comprising:
incorporating a trench which extends from one of a dyke crown and
the slope into a depth of the dyke body and in a longitudinal
direction of the dyke; filling the trench with a protective wall
made of a construction material consisting of mineral aggregates
and an organic adhesive; compacting the construction material; and
curing the construction material.
25. The dyke as claimed in claim 15, wherein the protective wall
projects at least partly into the slope.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a protective wall according to the
preamble of patent claim 1. It also relates to a dyke according to
the preambles of patent claims 12 and 15 and to a method of
producing a dyke according to the preamble of patent claim 24.
[0002] Two centuries of floods in only five years have again made
it directly clear to people in Germany the power and the hazard
potential of rising floods and other bodies of water. Attempts are
made to improve the level of protection by the construction of
technical flood prevention measures such as dykes, barrages,
retention basins and other protective installations (protective
walls). In this case, special importance is attached to the
construction of dykes at rivers and coasts.
[0003] The trapezoidal cross section of a dyke is typical of its
type of construction. The dyke body usually consists of compacted
earth or construction materials with a firm, effectively rooted
grass cover or of a mixture of various earth and construction
materials. For reasons of stability, the slopes should be 1:3 or
flatter, which also brings about advantages during maintenance and
with regard to requisite measures against wild animals. The slopes
at river courses are as a rule between 1:2 and 1:3, whereas the
slopes at coasts may also be designed to be flatter, at least on
the sea side.
[0004] The crown height of the dykes is based essentially on the
selection of the design flood as an event with a certain
probability of occurrence (recurrence within a certain period of
time) relative to a certain water level. It is calculated from the
high-water level and the "freeboard" (additional height for raising
of the water level by the wind, wave run-up on the slope, possibly
the effect of an ice jam, and an increased factor of safety). In
the case of new construction, there is also an additional factor
for the settling of the subsoil and the dyke body.
[0005] Seepage through the dyke, underflow of the dyke and the safe
dissipation of the seepage water are also factors determining the
cross section. High water levels continuing for a long time and
rapidly falling water levels impair the stability of the dyke. The
risk of the dyke fracturing increases with the intensity and
duration of the inundation.
[0006] If underflow of a dyke occurs, movements of material and
further erosion occur, which make the dyke increasingly unstable.
The hydraulic loading of the dyke body is also enormous in
particular during a flood; if it becomes too great, the dyke body
becomes soaked throughout and the water flows out of the dyke on
the side facing away from the river or sea.
[0007] As an ideal dyke construction with regard to stability in
the case of a flood continuing for a long time, the three-zone dyke
cross section has proved successful: a permeable earth supporting
body having a water-side wedge of less permeable earth material,
said body, if required for lengthening the flow path, being
integrated with a sealing wall (curtain wall, thin diaphragm wall,
sheet pile wall) in the subsoil under the dyke or in a deeper-lying
dense stratum. Such a dyke has been disclosed, for example, by WO
00/34587. Provided here is a waterproof barrier which extends in
the dyke longitudinal direction and vertically up to below the dyke
crown. The barrier is positioned approximately centrally between
the two slopes. The barrier is of multi-piece construction and has
a waterproof membrane in the center made of a synthetic material.
The membrane is fixed laterally in a foundation in a membrane
section folded like a bellows.
[0008] In another embodiment, a dyke revetment for protecting the
slope from penetrating water is provided. Serving for this purpose
is a multi-layered, waterproof membrane which is anchored in the
slope.
[0009] Proceeding therefrom, the object of the invention is to
specify a protective wall of the generic type which effectively
prevents or markedly reduces the erosion of a coast or a bank. The
protective wall is to be capable of being produced at a low cost of
construction. The object of the invention is also to specify dykes
of the generic type which have improved protection against erosion
and can be produced at a low cost of construction. In addition, a
method of producing a dyke is to be specified.
[0010] According to the invention, the object with respect to the
protective wall is achieved by the features of claim 1.
[0011] The protective wall has a planar, plate-shaped or cubic
design which has a section made of a waterproof construction
material. The construction material of the protective wall is a
compound of compacted, mineral aggregates and an organic adhesive.
Mineral aggregates such as, for example, sand and gravel are
construction materials available in abundance in nature and can be
procured on site in large quantities in a simple and inexpensive
manner. Mixed with an organic adhesive, the construction material
can easily be produced and processed in a viscous consistency. The
protective wall can be extended in a variety of ways, often in a
curved manner, by appropriate shaping.
[0012] In this connection, the good flowability is of great
importance for the processing. In the uncured state, the
construction material, in most combinations, has higher flowability
(consistency class) than freshly mixed concrete.
[0013] For the processing of the construction material in the tidal
zone or in the case of wet gravel, it is appropriate to use an
adhesive that can be cured under the effect of water. Other
suitable adhesives are a two-component epoxy resin adhesive, a
single-component polyurethane adhesive or a two-component
polyurethane adhesive.
[0014] The grain size of the aggregates is preferably between 0.1
and 0.3 mm. Good water tightness is still provided for within this
range without the screening of the construction materials having to
become too restricted. Ideally, the permeability coefficient
k.sub.f of the construction material is at most 5.times.10.sup.-10
m/s.
[0015] If larger grain sizes are used, the water permeability
increases. The protective wall is then suitable, when arranged in
the slope region of a dyke, as water bottom and bank protection and
helps to act against erosion in the coastal and bank region, in
which waves or the wave run-up is/are decelerated and absorbed. In
this case, favorable grain sizes of the aggregates are preferably
between 2 and 150 mm.
[0016] The density of the protective wall is also favorable, which
density is higher than that of water and if need be can be
increased and varied by the addition of steel. The protective wall
is therefore effectively prevented from being washed away
especially in the region of the breakers.
[0017] A further advantage lies in the environmental compatibility
of the construction material. When two-component epoxy resin
adhesive is used as organic adhesive, for example, the construction
material has no toxic effect at all on mold fungi and is difficult
to break down microbially. Nonetheless, substances that can be
eluted from the protective wall can be readily broken down, as
material tests have shown. As washing tests prove, there is no
chemical interaction between water and the constituents of the
construction material. The protective wall can therefore even be
used in dams and enclosures for drinking water reservoirs.
[0018] Finally, after its useful phase, the ground covering
according to the invention can be disposed of in a washing plant
for earth or gravel without adverse environmental effects.
Alternatively, after comminution, reuse as granulated material is
also possible.
[0019] In another embodiment, the wall thickness d.sub.w of the
protective wall is smaller than the extent in height h.sub.w and
length l.sub.w. Thus, for example, mat-shaped protective walls can
be produced on site with adhesively bonded gravel and can then be
sunk in the water on a floating pontoon in order to be used as
water bottom protection against erosion (harbors, sheet pile walls,
etc.). Protective walls in a length of 40 m max, a width of up to
25 m and a thickness of up to 50 cm can be processed in a
prefabricated manner on the construction site.
[0020] With regard to the dyke, the object is achieved according to
the invention by the features of claim 12.
[0021] The dyke has a dyke body having an essentially trapezoidal
cross section. A dimensionally stable protective wall is provided
between the inner slope and outer slope and extends in the dyke
longitudinal and vertical directions, the protective wall being
designed according to one of the exemplary embodiments described
above.
[0022] In this case, the protective wall acts as a seal. The seal
reduces the seepage water quantities and contributes to the
stability of the dyke. Surface seals on the water side, as are
explained later with respect to the alternative achievement of the
object of the invention according to the features of claim 15, and
core seals (inner seals) are possible. The protective wall
preferably runs in the dyke body vertically from the dyke crown
through the dyke cross section and is integrated in the ideal case
in a dense soil stratum underpinning the dyke. The protective wall
avoids underflow of the dyke, which underflow would result in
material movements and further erosion, which make the dyke
increasingly unstable.
[0023] A barrage sealed in such a way can be designed with steeper
slope angles, as a result of which the dyke cross section can be
reduced, which is of additional advantage in restricted spatial
conditions. Asymmetrical positioning of the protective wall with an
offset relative to one of the two slopes is possible as a further
variant, the positioning on the water side further reducing erosion
in the slope on the water side.
[0024] Protective walls can also be installed subsequently in
already existing dyke structures and constitute a simple and
efficient method of strengthening and repairing dykes.
[0025] A further solution according to the invention that achieves
the object with respect to the dyke is provided for by the features
of claim 15.
[0026] According to the invention, the dyke has a made-up dyke body
comprising a slope on the water side and land side, a dimensionally
stable protective wall being situated in front of the water-side
slope. The protective wall is designed according to one of the
exemplary embodiments explained above. Favorable angles of
inclination .alpha. of the protective wall relative to the water
surface lie between 15 and 90 degrees, it being possible for the
angle of inclination .alpha. to differ from the slope angle .beta.
if, for example, the protective wall is separately embodied such as
to be removed from the slope. For reliable anchoring of the
protective wall, said protective wall can be fastened by an
additional base in the region of the dyke toe, the slope and/or in
the foundation.
[0027] The dyke according to the invention has the advantage that
effective slope protection is provided for when positioning close
to the bank or to the coast and in the case of dykes with a
lower-lying narrow foreshore. A closed, dense and strongly rooted
grass cover offers as a rule, for dykes, sufficient and efficient
slope protection against flow and wave attack. There is also
effective protection against flotsam (e.g. including tree trunks,
possibly drifting ice floes and ice jam in winter). This also
applies in the case of frequently recurring high water levels
continuing for a long time.
[0028] Enhanced sealing against underflow and seepage can be
effected by virtue of the fact that the protective wall extends
from the dyke body right into the foundation.
[0029] The invention permits the construction of steep slopes
(steeper than 1:3), since it protects the dyke body against damage
when embodied as planar protection. In the case of a rapidly
falling water level, a heavy and water-permeable protective wall as
(open) revetment is required for reasons of stability. An
advantageous property of the invention, according to which the
water permeability of the protective wall can be determined
according to the selection of the grain size, becomes noticeable
here. If the protective wall is to be designed to be
water-permeable as for the above application, grain sizes of
roughly above 2 mm should be used for the mineral aggregates. The
grain size for a waterproof protective wall is accordingly below
this.
[0030] A dyke having a protective wall which extends into the dyke
body is constructed by the following method steps: [0031]
incorporating a trench which extends from the dyke crown or the
slope into the depth of the dyke body and in the longitudinal
direction of the dyke, [0032] filling the trench with a protective
wall made of a construction material consisting of mineral
aggregates and an organic adhesive, [0033] compacting the
construction material, and [0034] curing the construction
material.
[0035] In a type of construction in which the protective wall is
put onto the slope, the gravel is in each case applied in layers up
to a height of 300 mm and is then adhesively bonded with an organic
adhesive.
[0036] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained
below with reference to the attached drawing, in which:
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a dyke, designed according to the prior art,
without a protective wall,
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross section of a dyke having a
protective wall extending into the dyke body,
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross section of a dyke having a
protective wall put onto the slope, and
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a cross section of a dyke having a protective
wall put on a base.
[0041] FIG. 1 shows the typically trapezoidal cross section of a
dyke. The dyke body 1 is constructed above the foundation 2. In the
region of the foundation 2, over the entire width of the dyke, the
"dyke bed", the dyke body 1 runs out into tongue-shaped banquettes
3 on the water and land side.
[0042] The dyke body 1 terminates at the top with the dyke crown 4.
It is usually inclined or arched for draining toward the water. If
not negotiable, it is protected against erosion (earth removal) by
sods. If the dyke crown 4 is used for inspection with lightweight
vehicles or for bicycle traffic, a paving is required. Banquettes 3
placed on the land side increase the stability and carry as a rule
the dyke defense path which serves for the maintenance of the dyke
and, in the event of extreme flooding, for the defense of the dyke.
With regard to route directing, dimensions and paving, the dyke
defense paths must therefore permit speedy, risk-free flow of
traffic in an extreme situation and must be able to absorb the
loading by heavy vehicles and equipment.
[0043] Shown in FIG. 2 on the basis of the fundamental type of
construction of a dyke is a first embodiment of the invention, in
which the trapezoidal dyke body 1 has a vertical protective wall 5
for sealing it against erosion. The essentially flat, plate-shaped
protective wall 5 extends in the longitudinal direction of the dyke
and in its height from the foundation 2 right up to the dyke crown
4. Roughly one fifth of the height of the protective wall 5 extends
into the foundation 2. With its crown-side end, the protective wall
5 terminates flush with the dyke crown 4 and could serve as part of
a dyke path (not shown in any more detail). In further sections
(not shown) of the dyke, the protective wall 5 also extends beyond
the dyke crown 4. In its longitudinal direction, the protective
wall 5 is composed of a plurality of wall elements adjoining one
another. As can be seen, the wall thickness d.sub.w of the
protective wall 5 is markedly smaller than the extent in height
h.sub.w and length l.sub.w.
[0044] The construction material of the protective wall 5 is a
compound of sand and an organic adhesive. Mineral aggregates such
as, for example, sand. The grain size is between 0.1 and 0.3 mm;
therefore the protective wall is virtually watertight and thus
prevents soaking or flushing of the dyke body.
[0045] A second embodiment of a dyke can be seen in FIG. 3. There,
the protective wall 5 is inclined at an angle of inclination
.alpha. to the plane of the foundation 2 and is put onto the
water-side slope 6. In this embodiment, the angle of inclination
.alpha. is equal to the slope angle .beta.. The height h.sub.w of
the protective wall 5 projects just above the design high-water
level. On the base side, the protective wall extends right under
the low-water level in order to avoid erosion even at low water and
make possible reliable anchoring.
[0046] An embodiment having improved stability of the slope-side
protective wall 5 in comparison with the second embodiment is shown
with the third exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4. Here, a base 7
anchored in the water-side slope 6 serves for fixing the protective
wall 5 against drifting or sagging in the event of
underscouring.
[0047] In the second and third embodiments of the protective wall
5, watertight or water-permeable compositions of the mineral
aggregates are possible.
[0048] Of great advantage in the production of the protective walls
5 is the fact that sand as a mineral aggregate in applications near
the coast is of course available in practically unlimited
quantities.
[0049] List of Designations
[0050] 1 Dyke body
[0051] 2 Foundation
[0052] 3 Banquette
[0053] 4 Dyke crown
[0054] 5 Protective wall
[0055] 6 Slope
[0056] 7 Base
[0057] .alpha. Angle of inclination
[0058] .beta. Slope angle
[0059] d.sub.w Wall thickness
[0060] h.sub.w Height
[0061] l.sub.w Length
* * * * *