AU2007216706A1

AU2007216706A1 - Concrete Block Mat Installation by Gravity Flow

Info

Publication number: AU2007216706A1
Application number: AU2007216706A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Pieter Jan Degeeter
Original assignee: Marecon P L
Current assignee: MARECON P/L
Priority date: 2006-09-12
Filing date: 2007-09-11
Publication date: 2008-04-03
Also published as: AU2016200205B2; AU2016200205A1

Description

11 Sep 07 08:51p p.3 0, 0, Australian Government IP Australia Australia Patents Act 1990 Regulation 3.2 Original Complete Specification Standard Patent .r17& t- as leC ubject to the provisions of the Patents Act, information provided on this form may be made publicly available, including on the Internet.

ivention Title 'CONCRETE BLOCK MAT INSTALLATION BY GRAVITY FLOW' he following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing known to me: FIELD OF THE INVENTION: Protection of marine embankments consisting of clay, silt, sand or coarser granular material against the erosive effect of water currents and wave action, by means of concrete block mattresses, cast in situ.

BACKGROUND

INFORMATION:

Dikes, bund walls, foreshore linings and/or other forms of embankments can be protected against erosion caused by waves or currents by means of pre-fabricated concrete block mattresses.

This involves the transportation of the mattresses from the fabrication plant to the project site and the subsequent usage of a crane or other lifting device to install the mattresses on the embankment. It induces considerable time and costs to the extent that this solution is, in most cases, not cost-competitive in comparison to other embankment protection systems such as groutfilled mattresses or rock linings.

A substantial reduction in overall cost can be accomplished by fabricating the concrete mattresses on site. This involves the placement of mould(s), made of steel or other rigid material, placed directly on the face of the embankment.

L Traditionally, the concrete grout is deposited into the mould's cavities by means of a kibble suspended from a crane. This is a slow process and, as a consequence, the cost of this installation technique is relatively high.

F- PRINCIPAL FEATURES OF THE INVENTION:

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The invention is characterized by casting the concrete mattress in situ, directly on an embankment by means of a casting mould, utilizing the earth's gravity as the principal driving force to mobilize the concrete for the mould filling process.

Preferably the mould is shaped in such manner that the concrete blocks, after removal of the mould, form a stepped profile, reducing the run-up height of waves.

Preferably the mould, after some curing of the concrete, would be lifted off and, reused for the purpose of casting subsequent, adjoining, mattresses r ABN 38 113 072 755 P100/011 (05/05) Page 1 of 2 COMS ID No: ARCS-160556 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:53 Date 2007-09-11 11 Sep 07 08:51p p.4 The invention is described in the following statement 2/r cti C In one aspect the invention is concerned with a method of constructing such a 0 oconcrete mattress whilst in an other aspect the invention is concerned with a concrete mattress cast in situ.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: FIG. 1: cross section of embankment, covered by fabric lining FIG. 2: similar to figure 1 with casting mould section(s) placed on top of the fabric \Olining. Also showing concrete grout 'launching' platform.

\O FIG. 3: similar to figure 2 with mould cavities filled wirth concrete grout.

Cl FIG. 4: similar to figure 3 showing wave run-up situation.

oFIG. 5: partial longitudinal section and transverse section of mould C FIG. 6: plan view of cast mattress after withdrawal of mould(s) FIG. 7: partial cross section of concrete blocks, showing embedment of fabric loops.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT: A synthetic fabric membrane 1 is placed on embankment 2.

Subsequently, prefabricated mould section(s) 3 are placed on the fabric.

This is followed by the depositing of concrete grout 4 onto 'launching' platform The slump of the concrete grout, prior to curing, is such that it is internally unstable.

As a consequence the grout flows downslope, driven by gravitational force as indicated by arrow 6. If necessary, this process can be speeded up by the use of shovels, rakes, skimmer beams or other mechanical devices or machines.

After filling of the moulds the concrete is vibrated without delay, by means of handheld pencil vibrators or mechanical excitators attached to the mould(s) or by other techniques.

The supplied vibration energy causes the upper face 7 of concrete 8 in the mould's S cavity(s) 9 to become almost horizontal, rendering a 'stepped' blocks profile This has the beneficial effect of reducing run-up height 11 of wave(s) 12.

As a consequence the design crest level 13 of the embankment can be lowered without increasing the volume of overtopping water during the design wave condition.

Longitudinal and transverse mould profiles 14 and 15 render a flexible mattress 16 consisting of a plurality of rigid blocks 17, arranged in a rectangular pattern of rows and columns. The blocks are connected to fabric underlayer 1 by means of a plurality of closely spaced synthetic loops 18 which are tufted into fabric 1 during the manufacturing process.

Name of Applicant(s) Date P0/0I (5V __05-Pae o12 iyZN 3 0 P/00/009 (05/05) Page 2 of 2 ABN 38 113 072 755 COMS ID No: ARCS-160556 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:53 Date 2007-09-11 11 Sep 07 08:51p p. The invention is described in the following statement 2 10' 4 During the process of depositing and vibrating of the concrete, the loops penetrate into the base of he blocks, providing the required bonding strength between fabric and blocks. Instead of using loops, the required bonding strength can also be accomplished, at higher cost, by means of pins or other connection means.

Note: the invention is not limited to the application of the described fabric layer as a connection means between the concrete blocks, considering that in certain situations such layer would not be required.

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Name of Applicant(s) I 1%Q1,ee-60A, PL- Date i I P100/009 (0505)- Page 2 of 2 ABN 38 113 072 755 COMS ID No: ARCS-160556 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:53 Date 2007-09-11

Claims

1. Protection means comprising flexible concrete block mattress(es) cast in situ.

2. Protection means according to claim 1 with casting moulds shaped in such manner that the force of gravity is effectively mobilized for the purpose of filling the mould(s) with concrete grout. n

3. Protection means according to claim 1 and 2 with the concrete mattress cast onto S a pre-installed fabric layer and the blocks bonded to the fabric by means of a plurality of closely spaced synthetic loops protruding upward from the fabric layer into the base of the concrete blocks.

4. Protection means according to claims 1 and 2 with the casting mould(s) shaped in such manner that the concrete blocks form a stepped profile in upsiope direction, for 0 the purpose of reducing the run-up height of waves Protection means according to claim 3 with the blocks anchored to the fabric layer by means of pins or other connection means. Dated this 11th day of September 2007 MARECON Pty Ltd Applicant L-- *Note: If there is insufficient space above to type the statement of claim, do not use this sheet, but use separate sheets of paper beginning with the words "The claims defining the invention are as follows:" and ending with the date and name of applicant in block letters. P/00/011 (05105) Page 2 of 2 ABN 38 113 072 755 COMS ID No: ARCS-160556 Received by IP Australia: Time 22:53 Date 2007-09-11