GB2183704A - Armour blocks for protecting water bordering structures - Google Patents
Armour blocks for protecting water bordering structures Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2183704A GB2183704A GB08628781A GB8628781A GB2183704A GB 2183704 A GB2183704 A GB 2183704A GB 08628781 A GB08628781 A GB 08628781A GB 8628781 A GB8628781 A GB 8628781A GB 2183704 A GB2183704 A GB 2183704A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- block
- void
- blocks
- side faces
- openings
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
- E02B—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING
- E02B3/00—Engineering works in connection with control or use of streams, rivers, coasts, or other marine sites; Sealings or joints for engineering works in general
- E02B3/04—Structures or apparatus for, or methods of, protecting banks, coasts, or harbours
- E02B3/12—Revetment of banks, dams, watercourses, or the like, e.g. the sea-floor
- E02B3/14—Preformed blocks or slabs for forming essentially continuous surfaces; Arrangements thereof
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Revetment (AREA)
Abstract
A block (1) comprises a body having upper and lower faces (3, 4) and side faces (2) which are arranged to provide the body with a generally regular polygonal section, e.g. as shown a square section. Each of the faces (3, 4 and 2) is provided with an opening (5, 10, 9) communicating with an internal void (12). The openings (9) in the side faces (2) extend to the lower face to define with the opening (10) in the lower face (4) and the void (12) leg-like projections (11) by which the body is supported on the surface (e.g. a breakwater) to be protected thereby. As shown, the void (12) may be generally frusto-conical and the openings (5,10,9) may taper in the direction of the void (12), to facilitate construction. The body may be made of concrete or a suitable plastics material with a massive filler and a plurality of such bodies are arranged in a regular array to form a protective layer on the surface to be protected thereby. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and relating to protective blocks
This invention relates to protective blocks, generally known as armour blocks, such as may be used for the protection of structures bordered by water, such as dams, breakwaters and other littoral structures.
Armour blocks are used forfacing such structures to protect the structure from the potentially damaging forces ofthe water, the blocks generally being placed upon an inclined surface ofthe structure and built up to form the protective facing.
Such blocks are generally either massive, for example ofthe order of 1 to 25 tons, wave energy of thewaterbeing dissipated in interstices between the blocks and the mass ofthe blocks being sufficientto preventthem being moved bythewater,or substantially less massive, e.g. of the order of 2 to 5 tons, and each provided with an internal void and openings communicating therewith, the wave energy being dissipated within the blocks. The latter type of block is generally cuboid with plain faces, an internal void and an opening centrally in each face communicating with the void. The manufacture of such blocks can be complex and particularly in relation to the formwork required to define the internal void.Additionally, because the block is supported on a plane face, to ensurethatthe block is stably positioned on the surface to be protected, the surface has to be made of relatively small rocks or stones.
According to one aspect ofthe present invention there is provided a protective block comprising a body having an upper face, a lowerface, and a pluralityofsidefaces mutually orientated to define a generally polygonal section, and internal void, openings in the upper and lowerfaces communicating with the void, and openings in the side faces communicating with the void and extending to the lower face to define with the void and the opening in the lower face a pluralityof leg-like projections at least in the lower part ofthe body.
The openings in the side faces may be positioned within the lateral edges of the side faces so that the leg-like projections are aligned with the edges between adjacent side faces or the openings may extend intoadjacentsidefacessothatthe projections lie within the lateral edges of the side faces.
The or some of the openings advantageously communicate with the void by passages of inwardly reducing section, e.g. defined by generally frusto-conical surfaces, and the openings may have a curved or polygonal or part curved part linear shape.
The polygon defined by the side faces is advantageously a regular polygon and such that a plurality of like blocks can be arranged in a regular array.
According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a protective layer comprising a plurality of blocks as defined above, the blocks being arranged in a regular array on a surface to be protected thereby with the lowerfaces of adjacent blocks being generally coplanar.
An embodiment according to the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 'shows an embodiment of a block according to the invention, in side elevation;
Figure2 is a plan view of the block of Figure 1; Figure3 is a sectional view along the line A-Aof Figure 2; Figure4is a sectional view along the line B-B of
Figure2; Figure5is a sectional view along the line C-C of Figure 2;
Figure 6 is an underneath plan view of the block of
Figure 1; and
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic vertical section through an array of blocks as shown in Figures 1 to 6 in use.
The protective block 1 shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings comprises a body having an upperface 3 having an opening 5 therein, a lower face 4 having an opening 10 therein, and a plurality of side faces2 which as shown are generally planar. The side faces 2 are mutually orientated to define a generally polygonal section, the polygon having, in this embodiment, four equal sides.
The block 1 is provided with an internal void 12, defined by a generallyfrusto-conical surface 8, which opens in the lower surface at the opening 10, and which communicates with opening 5 in the upper face by a passage 6 of inwardly reducing section.
The block also has a plurality of side openings 9, one provided in the lower part of each side face 2.
The side openings 9 communicate with the void 12 and extend into the plane ofthe lower face 4 to define with the opening 10 and void 12 leg-like projections 11 in the lower part of the block, by which the block is supported on the surface ofthe structure to be protected thereby. The leg-like projections 11 enable the blockto be stably seated on the surface, while still maintaining a void within the body, even when the surface is composed of relatively large rocks or stones. Asshown,the side openings 9 are semi-circular, communicate with the void 12 by semi-circular passages of inwardly reducing section defined byfrusto-conical surfaces 7, and extend to about halfthe height ofthe block.
It will be appreciated that the generally frusto-conical shaping ofthe surfaces 6,7 and 8 facilitate construction of the formwork defining these surfaces and facilitate its removal after production of a block.
Although as described abovethe blockis squarein section, it will be appreciated that it may have other polygonal shapes, but preferably has a regular polygonal shape 2.
As described above, each leg-like projection 11 is in line with a side edge between adjacent side faces 2, the side openings 9 being provided therebetween.
In a modification, the projections may extend centrally of each side face, with each side opening 9 extending across a side edge between adjacent side faces.
The openings 5, 10 and 9,which are shown as circular and semi-circular respectively, may alternatively have other curved or linear profiles, such forexample as parabolicor polygonal profiles.
Equally the edges of the block between the faces thereof may be radiussed or bevelled and the upper and side faces may be curved or bowed ratherthan planar.
While as described above, the side faces 2 are generally perpendicular to the upper and lowerfaces ofthe block, they may alternatively be inclined so thatthe block is generallyfrusto-pyramidal with eitherthe upper or the lowerface forming the base of the pyramid.
The block may be made of any suitable material, such for example as materials currently in use for armour blocks, e.g. concrete, which may or may not be reinforced, or may be made of a suitable plastics material with a massive filler.
While as shown the side openings 9 extend to about half the heightof the block, the upper part of the block may be enlarged or reduced in volume relative to the lower part of the block, possibly with a corresponding change in thickness ofthe leg-like projections, so as to vary the mass of the block and the ratio ofthe mass ofthe blockto the volume of the internal void. A block as described above may, for example, weigh between 2 and 25 or more tons.
In use ofthe above described block, as shown in
Figure 7, a pluralityoflike blocks 1 are arranged in a regulararrayon an inclined surface 14which isto be protected thereby. The blocks 1 are arranged with the lowerfaces of adjacent blocks generally coplanar. Preferably at the lower end ofthe surface 14afooting 15 is provided which is formed with an inclined face 1 6a against which the side faces ofthe lowermost blocks 1 rest. The particular regular array selected for the blocks will depend on the transverse section of the blocks. For example, for blocks having a square transverse section, as shown, the array may comprise horizontal rows of blocks with the blocks in adjacent rows aligned to create perpendicular rows extending up the surface 14. Alternatively, the blocks in adjacent rows (which may be horizontal rows or rows extending upthesurface 14) may be offset or staggered relative to each other. Adjacent blocks in the same row and/or adjacent rows may be juxtaposed orspaced apartand,when spaced apart spacer blocks may be provided between the spaced blocks.
Claims (13)
1. A protective block comprising a body having an upperface, a lowerface, and a plurality of side faces mutually orientated to define a generally polygonal section, an internal void, openings in the upper and lowerfaces communicating with the void, and openings in the side faces communicating with thevoid and extendingtothe lowerface to define with the void and the opening in the lower face a plurality of leg-like projections at least in the lower part of the body.
2. Ablockasclaimed in claim 1, wherein the polygon defined by the side faces is a regular polygon and such that the body can be arranged togetherwith a plurality of like bodies in a regular array.
3. Ablockasclaimedineitherclaim 1 orciaim 2, wherein at least some ofthe openings communicate with the void by passages which reduce in section in the direction of the void.
4. A block as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the opening intheupperfaceis provided centrally within the periphery of the face.
5. A block as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the openings in the side faces are arranged laterally within the periphery of each face.
6. A block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each opening in the side faces extends laterally into two adjacent side faces.
7. A block as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the void is generally frusto-conical.
8. Ablockas claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the openings have a polygonal, a curvilinearora part linear partcurved shape.
9. A block as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, wherein the body is made of concrete.
10. A block as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the body is made of a plastics material.
11. A protective block substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
12. A protective layer comprising a plurality of blocks as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, the blocks being arranged in a regular array on a surface to be protected thereby with the lowerfaces of adjacent blocks being generally coplanar.
13. A protective layer substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB858529985A GB8529985D0 (en) | 1985-12-05 | 1985-12-05 | Protective blocks |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8628781D0 GB8628781D0 (en) | 1987-01-07 |
GB2183704A true GB2183704A (en) | 1987-06-10 |
Family
ID=10589295
Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB858529985A Pending GB8529985D0 (en) | 1985-12-05 | 1985-12-05 | Protective blocks |
GB08628781A Withdrawn GB2183704A (en) | 1985-12-05 | 1986-12-02 | Armour blocks for protecting water bordering structures |
Family Applications Before (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB858529985A Pending GB8529985D0 (en) | 1985-12-05 | 1985-12-05 | Protective blocks |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU6589286A (en) |
GB (2) | GB8529985D0 (en) |
PT (1) | PT83852B (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2197370A (en) * | 1986-09-03 | 1988-05-18 | Juei Jse Lin | Wave dissipation device |
WO2004088047A1 (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2004-10-14 | Kang-San Lee | Block for embankment |
US7572083B1 (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2009-08-11 | Elemental Innovation Inc. | Floating breakwater system and method for dissipating wave energy |
WO2009140295A1 (en) * | 2008-05-12 | 2009-11-19 | Cudo Stormwater Products, Inc. | Modular underground water management systems |
FR3085975A1 (en) * | 2018-09-19 | 2020-03-20 | Etablissements Paul Sergeant | BUILDING BLOCK FOR ARTIFICIAL REEF |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
ES2063648B1 (en) * | 1992-06-10 | 1997-05-01 | Bores Pedro Suarez | MULTI-PHASE ENERGY DISSIPATING SYSTEM, FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PANORAMIC COAT WORKS IN COASTS. |
CN107859043B (en) * | 2017-10-12 | 2023-04-25 | 上海勘测设计研究院有限公司 | Ecological foot protection module, foot protection assembly and use method of foot protection assembly |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1451065A (en) * | 1973-02-02 | 1976-09-29 | Webb W H | Wave-protection block |
US4083190A (en) * | 1976-05-10 | 1978-04-11 | Raul Pey | Fundamental armor module in breakwater net linked system |
GB2159190A (en) * | 1984-05-22 | 1985-11-27 | Vectis Stone Group Plc | Concrete block |
-
1985
- 1985-12-05 GB GB858529985A patent/GB8529985D0/en active Pending
-
1986
- 1986-12-02 AU AU65892/86A patent/AU6589286A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1986-12-02 GB GB08628781A patent/GB2183704A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 1986-12-02 PT PT8385286A patent/PT83852B/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1451065A (en) * | 1973-02-02 | 1976-09-29 | Webb W H | Wave-protection block |
US4083190A (en) * | 1976-05-10 | 1978-04-11 | Raul Pey | Fundamental armor module in breakwater net linked system |
GB2159190A (en) * | 1984-05-22 | 1985-11-27 | Vectis Stone Group Plc | Concrete block |
Cited By (7)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2197370A (en) * | 1986-09-03 | 1988-05-18 | Juei Jse Lin | Wave dissipation device |
US7572083B1 (en) * | 2000-09-26 | 2009-08-11 | Elemental Innovation Inc. | Floating breakwater system and method for dissipating wave energy |
WO2004088047A1 (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2004-10-14 | Kang-San Lee | Block for embankment |
US7326000B2 (en) | 2003-04-01 | 2008-02-05 | Kang-San Lee | Block for embankment |
CN100387780C (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2008-05-14 | 李江山 | Block for embankment |
WO2009140295A1 (en) * | 2008-05-12 | 2009-11-19 | Cudo Stormwater Products, Inc. | Modular underground water management systems |
FR3085975A1 (en) * | 2018-09-19 | 2020-03-20 | Etablissements Paul Sergeant | BUILDING BLOCK FOR ARTIFICIAL REEF |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8529985D0 (en) | 1986-01-15 |
PT83852A (en) | 1987-01-01 |
GB8628781D0 (en) | 1987-01-07 |
PT83852B (en) | 1992-10-30 |
AU6589286A (en) | 1987-06-11 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |