Block for geotechnical applications

Abstract

A block for geotechnical applications is disclosed, the block having a composite body which is a section of a used wind turbine blade including a part of its leading edge, trailing edge and the windward surface and leeward surface of the used blade. The body is open from above and below. Fragments of the windward surface, leeward surface, leading edge and trailing edge of the used blade are the block's side walls. The inside of the body is filled with a filling material. A method of making a block for geotechnical applications is also disclosed. Under the method, a section is marked on a used wind turbine blade between its tip and root for mounting in a hub. Then, within this section, the block body is cut out, in two cutting planes parallel to each other, in the form of a fragment with a closed cross section, including a part of a leading edge, trailing edge, windward shell and leeward shell of this blade, then this body is filled with a filling material, making its filling.

Claims

1. A block for geotechnical applications, comprising: a composite body including a section of a used wind turbine blade comprising a part of the used wind turbine blade leading edge, trailing edge and a windward surface and leeward surface, wherein the body is configured to be open from above and below, and fragments of the windward surface, leeward surface, leading edge and trailing edge of the used blade comprise body side walls, and wherein an inside of the body is filled with a filling material.

2. The block according to claim 1, wherein body further comprises a fragment of at least one spar web of the used blade connecting fragments of the windward surface and leeward surface.

3. The block according to claim 1, wherein the body is cut out from a part of the used blade between the blade root and tip in two parallel cutting planes.

4. The block according to claim 3, wherein the cutting planes, in which the body is cut from a used wind turbine blade, are arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

5. The block according to claim 3, wherein the cutting planes, in which the body is cut from a used wind turbine blade, are arranged diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the blade.

6. The block according to claim 1, wherein the filling material is non-cohesive and coarse-grained and has a high internal friction angle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages features and details of the various embodiments of this disclosure will become apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred exemplary embodiment or embodiments and further with the aid of the drawings. The features and combinations of features recited below in the description, as well as the features and feature combination shown after that in the drawing description or in the drawings alone, may be used not only in the particular combination recited but also in other combinations on their own without departing from the scope of the disclosure.

(2) In the following, advantageous examples of the invention are set out with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein.

(3) FIG. 1 depicts a block body in a top view,

(4) FIG. 2 depicts a block in a side view,

(5) FIG. 3 depicts graphically cutting out a block body from a used wind turbine blade,

(6) FIGS. 4 to 8 depicts graphically a way of constructing structures with the use of blocks, respectively for a river embankment, retaining wall, retaining wall with additional reinforcement with geosynthetics, road base, and railway track bed,

(7) FIGS. 9 to 13 depict a layer of blocks in a top view laid respectively in equal rows alternately, perpendicularly to each other, longitudinally, curvilinearly, transversely to the axis of a row, and

(8) FIGS. 14 to 16 depict mechanical connections between laid blocks.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) As used throughout the present disclosure, unless specifically stated otherwise, the term or encompasses all possible combinations, except where infeasible. For example, the expression A or B shall mean A alone, B alone, or A and B together. If it is stated that a component includes A, B, or C, then, unless specifically stated otherwise or infeasible, the component may include A, or B, or C, or A and B, or A and C, or B and C, or A and B and C. Expressions such as at least one of do not necessarily modify an entirety of the following list and do not necessarily modify each member of the list, such that at least one of A, B, and C should be understood as including only one of A, only one of B, only one of C, or any combination of A, B, and C.

(10) In the first embodiment, the block for geotechnical applications comprises a composite body 1 and its filling 2. The composite body 1 contains side walls and is open from above and below. The body 1 is a section of a used wind turbine blade 3 made of solid composite and is cut out from a part of this blade 3 between its tip 4 and the root 5, for fixing in the hub, so that the section has a closed cross section. The side walls of the section are made up of curvilinear solid laminates, which are a part of a windward shell 6, leeward shell 7, leading edge 8 and trailing edge 9 of the blade 3. In addition, this section of the blade 3, which is the body 1 of the block 1, comprises a part of longitudinal spar webs 10 of the blade 3, with which its windward sheath 6 is connected with the leeward sheath 7. The composite body 1 has its filling 2 made with natural soil. The section of the blade 3 is cut out of it in two cutting planes 11, parallel to each other, at a cutting angle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade 3.

(11) In the second embodiment, the block for geotechnical applications comprises a body 1 being a section of a used blade 3 of a wind turbine made of layered laminate, cut out in two parallel planes of the section 11, at a cutting angle diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the blade 3. The filling 2 of the block 1 is made of natural mineral aggregate. In the remainder of the embodiment, it is as in the first embodiment.

(12) In the third embodiment, the block for geotechnical applications comprises a filling 2 made of artificial aggregate. In the remainder of the embodiment, it is as in the first embodiment.

(13) In the fourth embodiment, the block for geotechnical applications comprises a filling 2 made of construction debris. In the remainder of the embodiment, it is as in the first embodiment.

(14) In the fifth embodiment, the block for geotechnical applications comprises a filling 2 made of coarse stone aggregate. In the remainder of the embodiment, it is as in the first embodiment.

(15) In the first embodiment, the method of making the block for geotechnical applications consists in using a used wind turbine blade 3 made of solid composite containing two longitudinal spar webs 10, connecting its windward shell 6 with its leeward shell 7, reinforcing its structure. First of all, a segment L between the tip 4 and the root 5 (for mounting in a hub) is marked on the used blade 3. Within the segment L, a section of the blade 3 is cut out in two cutting planes 11, parallel to each other and oriented at a cutting angle perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the blade 3. The section of the blade 3 obtained in this way has a closed cross-section and contains a part of the leading edge 8, trailing edge 9, windward shell 6, and leeward shell 7, as well as a part of the spar webs 10 connecting these shells 6 and 7 and forming the body 1 of the block 1. The distance between the cutting planes 11 determines the height H of the block P. The width B of the block 1 depends on the location of the segment L of the blade 3 and the cutting angle . Then the interior of the body 1 obtained in this way is filled with filling material. Natural soil is used as a filling material. Filling with the filling material is carried out at the place of construction of a given structure for which the blocks 1 are used.

(16) In the second embodiment, the method of making the prefabricated block for geotechnical applications consists in using a used wind turbine blade 3 made of layered composite containing two longitudinal spar webs 10, connecting its windward shell 6 with its leeward shell 7, reinforcing its structure. The section of the blade 3 on its segment L is cut out in two parallel cutting planes 11 oriented at a cutting angle diagonal to the longitudinal axis of the blade 3. The interior of the body 1 thus obtained is filled with mineral natural aggregate. In the remainder of this method, it consists in the same as the first method.

(17) In the first example of implementation, the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications according to the invention consists in using the blocks 1 described in the second and third embodiment. An earth structure in the form of a river embankment is constructed. Firstly, the first layer of the blocks 1 is laid on stabilised ground 12, then the second layer of the blocks 1 is laid on it and then the third and fourth layer of the blocks 1 respectively. After laying the last layer of the blocks 1, the whole is covered with a top layer 13. To make the first layer of the blocks 1 bodies 1 made of sections of a used composite blade 3 of a wind turbine, of equal height H and various widths B are laid on the stabilised ground 12. The bodies 1 are laid in rows R. Within a given row R, the bodies 1 are arranged alternately, with their parts containing a fragment of the trailing edge 9 of the wind turbine blade 3 facing each other, thus filling the free spaces between individual bodies 1 in the area of their narrowing from the side containing the trailing edge 9 the used blade 3. Then the interiors of the bodies 1 and the free spaces between the bodies 1 are filled with a filling material in the form of artificial aggregate and mineral aggregate. The filling material is thickened, and then the second layer of the blocks 1 is laid. The bodies 1 of the blocks 1 of the second layer are laid with an offset inside the soil massif. In the remainder, the laying of the second layer of the blocks 1 is carried out as for the first layer. Then the third layer is laid like the second layer, and after it is laid, the fourth layer is laid like the second layer, and after it is laid, the entire structure is covered with the top layer 13 made using a firm soil.

(18) In the second example of implementation, the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications according to the invention consists in using the blocks 1 described in the second and fifth embodiment. The structure constructed is a retaining structure. Firstly, the first layer of the blocks 1 is laid on stabilised ground 12, then the second layer of the blocks 1 is laid on it and then the third and fourth layer of the blocks 1 respectively. After laying the last layer of the blocks 1, the whole is covered with a top layer 13. To make the first layer of the blocks 1, bodies 1 made of sections of a used composite blade 3 of a wind turbine, of equal height H and various widths B are laid on the stabilised ground 12. The bodies 1 are laid in two rows R, with their parts containing a fragment of the trailing edge 9 of the wind turbine blade 3 facing each other. After laying the bodies 1 of a given layer, they are connected by means of mechanical connectors 14 in the form of composite rods with a hook. Rods with a length equal to twice the height H of the block 1 are used. Then these bodies 1 and the free spaces between them are filled with the filling material, in the form of aggregate, with the bodies 1 of the outer blocks 1, which form the structure's facing, and the free spaces between them are filled with coarse aggregate, and the remaining bodies 1 and the free spaces between them are filled with fine aggregate. The filling material is thickened, and then the second layer of the blocks 1 is laid with an offset inside the soil massif against the previously laid layer. In the remainder, the laying of the second layer of the blocks 1 is carried out as for the first layer. After laying the second layer of blocks the third and fourth layers are laid like the second layer. When the fourth layer of the blocks 1 is laid, the entire structure is covered with the top layer 13 made using a firm soil. In the remainder, the works are carried out as in the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications in the first example of implementation.

(19) In the third example of implementation, the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications according to the invention consists in using the blocks 1 described in the second embodiment. The structure constructed is a retaining structure. Firstly, the first layer of the blocks 1 is laid on stabilised ground 12, then the second layer, third and fourth layer of the blocks 1 is laid, after laying them, the whole is covered with a top layer 13. To make the first layer of the blocks 1, bodies 1 made of sections of a used composite blade 3 of a wind turbine, of equal height H, are laid on the stabilised ground 12. The bodies 1 are laid in one row R, with their parts containing a fragment of the trailing edge 9 of the wind turbine blade 3 facing the inside of the structure. After laying the bodies 1 of a given layer, they are connected by means of mechanical connectors 14 in the form of steel rods with a hook having a length of not less than twice the height of the block P. Then the bodies 1 and the free spaces between them are filled with a filling material in the form of mineral aggregate. The filling material is thickened. After laying the first layer of the blocks 1, the soil is additionally reinforced by placing a geosynthetic material 15 in the form of a geonet. The bodies 1 of the blocks 1 of the second layer are laid with an offset inside the soil massif. In the remainder, the second layer of the blocks 1 is laid in the same way as the first layer, and after it has been laid, an additional reinforcement is also provided by placing the geosynthetic material 15 in the form of a geonet. After the second layer of blocks 1 is laid, the third and the fourth layers are laid just like the second layer. An additional reinforcement is made between the third and the fourth layer of blocks 1 by placing the geosynthetic material 15 in the form of a geonet. After the fourth layer of the blocks 1 is laid, the entire structure is covered with a top layer using a film soil. In the remainder, the works are carried out as in the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications in the second example of implementation.

(20) In the fourth example of implementation, the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications according to the invention consists in using the blocks 1 described in the first and the second embodiment. The blocks 1 are used to reinforce the ground which forms a road base course. Firstly, the first layer of the blocks 1 is laid on stabilised ground 12, then the second layer of the blocks 1 is laid on it and finally the whole is covered with a top layer 13 of a firm soil. To make the first layer of the blocks 1, bodies 1 made of sections of a used composite blade 3 of a wind turbine, of equal height H, To make the first layer of the blocks 1, bodies 1 made of sections of a used composite blade 3 of a wind turbine, of equal height H, are laid on the stabilised ground 12. The bodies 1 are laid in rows R crosswise to the axis of a given row R. After laying the bodies 1 of the first layer, they are connected with each other by mechanical connectors 14 in the form of synthetic tapes. Then the second layer of the blocks 1 is laid. The bodies 1 of the second layer of the blocks 1 are laid on the first layer with an offset inside the soil massif. In the remainder, the laying of the second layer of the blocks 1 is carried out as for the first layer. After laying the second layer of blocks 1, the entire structure is covered with a top layer using a firm soil. In the remainder, the works are carried out as in the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications in the first example of implementation.

(21) In the fourth example of implementation, the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications according to the invention consists in using the blocks 1 described in the fourth and the fifth embodiment. The blocks 1 are used to reinforce the ground which forms a railway track bed. The bodies 1 are arranged in rows R, with their longitudinal axis along the axis of the row R. The interiors of the bodies 1 are filled with construction debris and coarse mineral aggregate. The bodies 1 of the blocks 1 within a given layer are connected with each other by means of mechanical connectors 14 in the form of bolts. In the remainder, the works are carried out as in the method of constructing structures with the use of blocks for geotechnical applications in the third example of implementation.