Stabilized damping element, as well as water barrier having such damping elements

Abstract

A damping element (6) comprises, adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction (7), a head part (3), neck part (4) and foot part (5) of concrete. The cross section of the neck part transversely to the longitudinal direction (7) is smaller than the cross section of the head part transversely to the longitudinal direction and is smaller than the cross section of the foot part transversely to the longitudinal direction, such that a system of channels (8) is formed. The foot part (5) has, over at least a portion of the periphery (18) thereof, a recess (15) directed transversely to the longitudinal direction. Together with the grit particles (16) accommodated therein, these grooves (15) provide a stabilizing effect.

Claims

1-24. (canceled)

25. Damping element comprising a head part, neck part and foot part of concrete material, adjoining one another in the longitudinal direction, wherein a cross section of the neck part transversely to the longitudinal direction is smaller than a cross section of the head part transversely to the longitudinal direction and is smaller than a cross section of the foot part transversely to the longitudinal direction, wherein the foot part has an at least partially tapered periphery, and has a recess directed transversely to the longitudinal direction over at least a portion of said tapered periphery.

26. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the foot part has a number of sides and the recess is provided on all sides of the foot part.

27. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the recess has the form of a groove.

28. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the recess is interrupted in the peripheral direction.

29. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the recess extends continuously around the whole periphery.

30. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the foot part has a square or rectangular cross-section.

31. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the foot part has a number of sides, and at least some of the sides are convex in the peripheral direction.

32. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the recess is located at a distance from a bottom side or base of the foot part and from a transition between the foot part and the neck part.

33. Damping element according to claim 25, comprising two damping element parts, which abut at an interface running in the longitudinal direction.

34. Damping element according to claim 33, wherein the damping element parts are identical.

35. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein, in a first principal direction transversely to the longitudinal direction, a transverse dimension c of the head part is greater than a transverse dimension a of the foot part.

36. Damping element according to claim 35, wherein sides of the foot part which are directed transversely to the first principal direction are provided with a recess.

37. Damping element according to claim 35, wherein, in a second principal direction which is directed transversely to the longitudinal direction and transversely to the first principal direction, a transverse dimension c of the head part is equal to the transverse dimension c of the head part in the first principal direction and greater than or equal to a transverse dimension b of the foot part in the second principal direction

38. Damping element according to claim 25, wherein the foot part comprises a plurality of recesses one above another.

39. An installation comprising a plurality of damping elements arranged together, each damping element comprising: a head part, a neck part and a foot part of concrete material, wherein a cross section of the neck part transversely to the longitudinal direction is smaller than a cross section of the head part transversely to the longitudinal direction and is smaller than a cross section of the foot part transversely to the longitudinal direction and each foot part has one or more recesses at its outer periphery, wherein at least the foot parts of neighbouring damping elements are positioned with their recesses facing each other, whereby stabilization particles such as grit or gravel may be retained in the recesses of the said foot parts to prevent mutual shifting of the damping elements.

40. Installation according to claim 39, wherein dimensions of the stabilization particles are greater than a depth dimension of the recesses.

41. Installation according to claim 39, wherein dimensions of the stabilization particles are such that they can extend into the recesses of adjacent damping elements.

42. Installation according to claim 39, wherein the head parts of the damping elements are greater in size than the foot parts, whereby the head parts of neighbouring damping elements abut each other.

43. Installation according to claim 42, forming a convex section of a dike or water barrier, wherein head parts of neighbouring damping elements and foot parts of said damping elements abut directly one against another.

44. Installation according to claim 42, whereby the neck parts form a system of channels and the head parts comprise openings formed between adjacent head parts through which water can penetrate into the system of channels.

Description

[0021] The invention will be described in greater detail below on the base of the figures.

[0022] FIG. 1 shows damping elements placed side by side.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows a top view of a damping element according to II of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the foot part of a damping element according to III of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 shows a vertical cross section through a water barrier.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows the enlarged detail according to V of FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows a detail of a foot part having various possible recesses.

[0028] The water barrier or dike represented with reference numeral 1 in FIG. 4 consists of the dike body 10, as well as a lining 2 consisting of a large number of damping elements 6. This lining extends both in the longitudinal direction of the dike body 10 and in the transverse direction represented in FIG. 3. In the transverse direction, the damping elements 6 are placed in this example side by side in a row. In the longitudinal direction too, the damping elements 6 can be arranged in rows. Placed in a known manner at the foot of the dike 1 is rock fill 11, which is located below the level of the water body 12.

[0029] The water body 12 reaches up to a certain height of the lining 2; when the waves on the water body 2 break, the lining 2 is exposed to water forces. This means also that the individual damping elements 6 are subjected to load. It is hence of great importance that the damping elements 6 present in the lining 2 are secured as well as possible such that they can offer resistance to the force of the water.

[0030] As also represented in FIGS. 1 and 4, each damping element 6 consists of a head part 3, a neck 4 and a foot part 5. These parts adjoin one another in the longitudinal direction, indicated schematically by reference numeral 7. The neck part 4 has a considerably smaller cross section than the head part 3 and the foot part 5. As a result, a system of channels 8 is formed between the mutually adjacent damping elements 6. The foot part 5 possesses on the bottom side a base 17, by means of which the damping element 6 can be placed firmly on a foundation. The periphery 18 of the foot part 5 extends upwards from this base 17 in the longitudinal direction 7 and possesses a shape which is tapered somewhat in the longitudinal direction 7.

[0031] Although the head parts 3, in the represented illustrative embodiment, adjoin one another, they enclose mutual openings 9 through which water can penetrate into the system of channels 8. As a result, on the one hand the force of the water is damped, whilst, on the other hand, it can be evacuated to good effect via the system of channels 8.

[0032] As represented in FIG. 4, the lining 2 reaches from a straight flank 13 of the dike body 10 up to the summit 14 thereof, such that the rows of damping element 6 undergo a curvature. The mutual position of the damping elements 6 relative to one another can thereby vary, wherein at the site of the straight flank 13 the longitudinal directions 7 of neighbouring damping elements are mutually parallel, whilst at the site of the transition from this straight flank 13 to the summit 14 the longitudinal directions 7 of neighbouring damping elements 6 enclose a small angle. It is important, however, that both at the site of the straight flank, at the site of the summit 14 and at the site of the transition between the straight flank 13 and the summit 14, all damping elements 6 are well stabilized in the same way relative to one another against loosening.

[0033] In this context, various measures have been taken. First of all, these grit particles 16 provide a clamping effect between the adjacent foot parts 5 as a result of the somewhat tapered shape of the periphery 18. The damping elements 6 are constructed such that the transverse dimensions c of the head parts 3 are equal in the mutually perpendicular directions as represented in the top view of FIG. 2. The transverse dimensions in the two corresponding mutual perpendiculars of the foot part 5 differ, however, as represented in the cross section of FIG. 3. In this case, one transverse dimension b is chosen equal to the transverse dimensions c of the head part 3, yet the other transverse dimension a is chosen somewhat smaller. The transverse dimensions a and b are measured close to the base 17 of the foot part 5.

[0034] The damping elements 6 are placed on the dike body 10 such that the foot parts 5 thereof are placed with their relatively small transverse dimensions a along the flanks 13 from low to high, whilst the foot parts 5 are placed with their larger transverse dimensions b in the longitudinal direction of the dike body 10. The result of this is that the damping elements 6, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the dike body 10, rest stably one against another both with the head parts 3 and with their foot parts 5. Along the straight flank 13 viewed from high to low, however, although the head parts 3 abut one against another, a gap is formed between the foot parts 5 owing to the smaller transverse dimensions a of the foot parts 5. At the place of the curved transition between the straight flank 13 and the summit 14, however, the foot parts 5 also abut one against another, because there the longitudinal directions 7 of the particular damping elements 6 enclose a small angle relative to one another.

[0035] A further measure for stabilizing the damping elements relates to the groove 15 provided on the outer side of the foot part 5. In the represented illustrative embodiment, this groove 15 extends around the whole of the periphery of the foot part 5, although that is not necessary. The groove 15 is directed perpendicularly relative to the longitudinal direction 7. As represented in FIG. 3 and in particular in the larger-scale view of FIG. 1, a grit consisting of particles 16 has been deposited between the foot parts 5 of neighbouring damping elements 6.

[0036] As a result of these grooves 15 filled with grit particles 16, the damping elements 6 also at the site of the straight flank 13 are nevertheless well stabilized relative to one another, despite the gap which exists there between adjacent damping elements 6 as a result of the smaller transverse dimension a thereof. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 5, the mutual stabilization of the damping elements 6 is further increased by the fact that particles 16 can have such dimensions that one and the same particle can protrude both in the groove 15 of one damping element and in the groove 15 of the neighbouring damping element. The foot parts 5 of the damping elements are thereby, in the longitudinal direction thereof, non-displaceable relative to one another, which imparts to the lining made up of such damping elements very good resistance against the forces of flowing and rolling water. The mutually opposing grooves 15 form a system of channels between the mutually adjacent damping elements 6, and in particular between the side-by-side foot parts 5.

[0037] As represented in FIGS. 1-3, the damping elements 6 preferably consist of identical damping element parts 20, 21, which abut one against the other via an interface 19.

[0038] The detail of the foot part in FIG. 6 shows various forms of recesses which can each be used separately, either of the same type one above another or of different types one above another. The two grooves 15 placed one above the other are continuous. As an alternative, or additionally thereto, rows of insulated recesses or pits 15, 15 can be used. In all recesses of this type also, as a result of the intrusion of grit particles therein, a stabilized damping element can be obtained.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0039] 1. Water barrier [0040] 2. Lining [0041] 3. Head part [0042] 4. Neck part [0043] 5. Foot part [0044] 6. Damping element [0045] 7. Longitudinal direction [0046] 8. System of channels [0047] 9. Opening [0048] 10. Dike body [0049] 11. Rock fill [0050] 12. Water body [0051] 13. Straight flank of dike body [0052] 14. Summit of dike body [0053] 15, 15, 15. Groove in foot part [0054] 16. Grit particles [0055] 17. Base foot part [0056] 18. Periphery of foot part [0057] 19. Interface [0058] 20; 21. Damping element parts [0059] a Relatively small transverse dimension of foot part [0060] b Relatively large transverse dimension of foot part [0061] c Transverse dimensions of head part