REINFORCEMENT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME

Abstract

A reinforcement for strengthening soil areas, ground surfaces, and in particular subsoils, and earthwork structures includes at least one reinforcement element, preferably a plurality of reinforcement elements which, in particular, intersect at an angle, wherein the at least one reinforcement element includes at least one actuator by way of which a property of the reinforcement element can be changed, and in particular at least temporarily changed. A structure on a subsoil, and in particular an earthwork structure includes the aforementioned reinforcement, and a method is provided for operating the aforementioned reinforcement.

Claims

1. A reinforcement for strengthening soil areas, ground surfaces, subsoils, and earthwork structures, comprising at least one reinforcement element or a plurality of reinforcement elements which intersect at an angle, wherein at least one of the reinforcement elements comprises or is operatively connected to at least one actuator configured to at least temporarily change a property of the reinforcement element.

2. The reinforcement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement element comprises a plurality of actuators which are disposed in sections of the at least one reinforcement element.

3. The reinforcement according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the intersecting reinforcement elements comprise a plurality of cell ribs which form a lattice including a plurality of lattice cells delimited by the plurality of cell ribs, and the at least one actuator is configured to change at least temporarily at least one property of at least one of the cell ribs.

4. The reinforcement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one reinforcement element comprises a laid scrim or woven fabric.

5. The reinforcement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one actuator a. is disposed in the at least one reinforcement element or in the at least one cell rib; or b. is formed of at least a sub-section of the at least one reinforcement element or of the at least one cell rib or neighboring separate regions of a same reinforcement element or cell rib are connected by the at least one actuator; or c. is attached to the at least one reinforcement element or to oen of the cell ribs outside of the reinforcement element or cell rib spaced apart therefrom or in contact therewith, with a direction of action parallel to a direction of extension of the reinforcement element or of the cell rib; or d. is disposed between neighboring reinforcement elements or cell ribs; or e. is disposed between at least one of the reinforcement elements and an earthwork structure, in which the reinforcement element is embedded.

6. The reinforcement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one actuator is configured to change at least temporarily the at least one property of the at least one reinforcement element or the at least one cell rib at least locally at the site of the at least one actuator and the at least one property comprises at least one of the following: a. an outer dimension in at least one direction, and/or b. a shape and roughness or an extension direction or a curvature, and/or c. a position relative to the environment, and/or d. a rigidity to expansion and compression, and/or e. a strength, and/or f. stresses or forces generated therein, and/or g. vibration damping thereof.

7. The reinforcement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator is formed by: a. a cylinder-piston assembly configured to be operated pneumatically or hydraulically; or b. a linear motor; or c. a piezoelectric element; or d. a magnetic element or an electromagnetic element; or e. a dielectric elastomer; or f. an element configured to be inflatable and/or deflatable by way of a gas or a liquid.

8. A reinforcement according to claim 1 or 3, further comprising at least one control unit and at least one sensor configured to measure and detect a state of the at least one reinforcement element or the at least one cell rib and/or of the environment thereof, the control unit being configured to activate the at least one actuator as a function of the detected state.

9. The reinforcement according to claim 8, wherein a respective one of the sensors and a respective one of the control units is assigned to each of the actuators.

10. A structure on a subsoil or an earthwork structure, wherein the structure or the subsoil thereof includes a reinforcement according to claim 1.

11. A method for operating a reinforcement according to claim 1 or 3, wherein at least one property of at least one of the reinforcement elements or cell ribs is at least temporarily changed at least locally by the at least one actuator.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the at least one actuator is activated as a function of a state of the at least one reinforcement element or cell rib and/or of the environment of the reinforcement or cell rib measured by a sensor.

Description

[0041] Exemplary embodiments of the invention will be described hereafter based on the figures.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a reinforcement in a biaxial design, in which several reinforcement elements 1a are disposed spaced apart from one another, extending in a first direction, and several reinforcement elements 1b are disposed spaced apart from one another, extending in a second direction. The two directions are preferably perpendicular to one another. The upper area shows a top view, and the lower area of FIG. 1 shows a side view.

[0043] The reinforcement elements 1a and 1b each form a strand made of a selected material, for example metal or plastic or composite material, or in the form of a fiber aggregate.

[0044] The reinforcement elements intersect several times, thereby forming a lattice including lattice cells 2, wherein each lattice cell 2 is bounded by cell ribs 3. Each cell rib 3 is a sub-region of a reinforcement element 1a or 1b.

[0045] As an alternative, which is not shown, a reinforcement may also only be formed of a reinforcement element 1 and accordingly have a uniaxial design or be designed as a planar element.

[0046] Such reinforcements can be used in the ground/in the soil, for example underneath foundations or in the environment thereof or for the general fortification of soil areas, for example to increase the load-bearing capacity or reduce deformations, for example in the embankment area. Such reinforcements can also be used in ground surfaces underneath other structures, for example in foundations. In the case of lattice-like reinforcements, the material of the subsoil, in particular soil, can also enter or pass through the lattice cells.

[0047] The invention is thus designed, here, such that at least one reinforcement element, in the representation here several reinforcement elements 1a, and in particular the sections of these reinforcement elements 1a which form the cell ribs 3, comprise at least one actuator 4. The reinforcement elements 1b can also comprise at least one actuator, however, this is not shown here.

[0048] A property of the reinforcement element 1a or cell rib 3 comprising such an actuator can be changed by way of this actuator 4. The change of the property can preferably be carried out in a direction-based manner. So as to be able to achieve this, each of the actuators 4 can have at least one or more distinct directions of action, which in the representation here are shown by the arrows in the actuators 4.

[0049] By way of example, several types of actuators 4 can be distinguished here. The actuators 4a are inserted between two separate spaced-apart regions of the same reinforcement element 1a or cell rib 3, connecting these two regions by bridging these. The actuators 4a thus replace a region of the reinforcement element 1a at the site of the use thereof.

[0050] The actuators 4b are disposed outside of a reinforcement element 1a or cell rib 3, here spaced apart therefrom, so that a contact between the actuator 4b and the reinforcement element 1a or cell rib 3 only exists at the spaced-apart attachment points. In the process, the actuators 4b span a region of a reinforcement element 1/1a or cell rib 3.

[0051] The actuators 4c are likewise disposed outside of the reinforcement element 1/1a or cell rib 3, but in contact therewith, for example, integrally formed thereon or only regionally integrated. In this exemplary embodiment, these actuators 4c have two different directions of action.

[0052] The actuator 4d symbolizes an actuator type that acts between the reinforcement element 1a and the environment. The actuator 4a is attached on one side to the reinforcement element 1a and, on the other side thereof, in the environment of the reinforcement element, for example an earthwork structure.

[0053] Actuators completely integrated into a reinforcement element 1a or cell rib 3 are represented by the actuator 4e.

[0054] The use of the actuators 4 described here is not limited to the reinforcement according to the specific representation in FIG. 1, but these types of actuators 4 can generally be provided in/at a reinforcement element in any reinforcement that is possible according to the invention.

[0055] It is apparent that a property of the reinforcement element 1a/cell rib 3 can be changed by way of the actuators 4 at least locally, at the site of the actuator 4, and in particular also in an environment around the actuator 4, for example by exerting a force by way of the actuator between the attachment points thereof to the reinforcement element 1a or cell rib 3.

[0056] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates examples of possible actuators 4. For example, piezoelectric actuators 4.1 can be used. With these, linear movements as well as curvatures can be generated. Forces in the range of presently up to 100 kN, for example, are possible using such actuators. Dielectric elastomers 4.2 can also form actuators, by way of which curvatures can preferably be achieved. Linear actuators 4.3 can preferably be used, for example, having an electrical, a magnetic, a pneumatic or a hydraulic design, for example for exerting a force in the range of presently up to 1.5 kN. The actuators 4.4 are elements that can be inflated and/or deflated by fluids, for example gases or liquids, which thereby change the outer shape and/or dimensions thereof. The actuators 4.5 are magnetically and/or electromagnetically acting actuators.

[0057] All actuators 4 shown here, as well as types of actuators that are not shown, are suitable for bringing about a property change in a reinforcement element upon actuation, when such a reinforcement element comprises an actuator. A property of just the reinforcement element alone may be changed, or a property may be changed in terms of cooperation between the reinforcement element and the environment.

[0058] FIG. 3 shows an example of the use of an actuator 4.4 that can be inflated and/or deflated by a fluid. This actuator preferably acts in a substantially omnidirectional manner. The actuator 4.4 can be formed by a hose, which also forms the reinforcement element 1a and/or 1b. The actuator, however, can additionally also be inserted into a reinforcement element. Fluid supply can preferably also be carried out through a respective reinforcement element 1a, 1b.

[0059] In the center, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the reinforcement elements 1a, 1b are not inflated. In contrast, on the right, FIG. 3 shows an inflated state of the reinforcement elements 1a, 1b. It is clearly apparent that the reinforcement elements 1a, 1b have a significantly larger cross-section and thereby decreasing the size of the lattice cell 2. There is thus an option for changing a dimensional property of the reinforcement. In this way, it is also possible, for example, to exert a force on the surrounding soil.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows a possible use of an actuator by way of which a shape change, essentially by curving of the reinforcement elements 1a, 1b, can be carried out in a lattice-like reinforcement, for example by way of dielectric elastomers. An actuator 4.2 comprising dielectric elastomers can preferably be integrated into a reinforcement element 1a, 1b, for example a respective cell rib. It is advantageous here that different curvature directions of the lattice ribs can be achieved by different polarities of the operating voltage. In this way, a shape property of the reinforcement elements 1a, 1b can also be changed here. For example, specifically, the clear cross-section of the lattice cell 2 can be increased, as well as decreased, or ground pressure, or a ground opening, in the environment can be achieved.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a specific exemplary application for reinforcing the soil area underneath a foundation 5. A reinforcement, in the form of a lattice, including intersecting reinforcement elements 1 is apparent here underneath the foundation 5 in the soil area. This example shows the use of differing actuators. The reinforcement elements 1 are depicted in the figure with a black line, and the actuator type is shown by white symbols disposed therein. A double arrow represents actuators attached to the reinforcement element 1, for example piezo actuators 4.1 or linear actuators 4.3. A white dotted line shows, for example, actuators integrated into a reinforcement element 1, for example dielectric elastomers 4.2 or inflatable/deflatable actuators 4.4. In this way, changes can be made to a property, or in particular to different properties, of the reinforcement elements in different manners. For example, the ground underneath a foundation 5 of a building can be stabilized during an earthquake.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a method according to the invention being carried out, using a lattice-shaped reinforcement including intersecting reinforcement elements 1a and 1b, which form lattice cells. The method shown is not limited to the illustrated type of reinforcement, but may generally be carried out with any reinforcement according to the invention. For simplification, only few reinforcement elements 1a, 1b and only one actuator 4 are shown here. What is essential for the method is the use of a sensor 6, by way of which state variables from the environment of the reinforcement can be measured, for example a measure for vibrations, for example during an earthquake. The sensor 6 can also be disposed directly at a reinforcement 1a, 1b.

[0063] The sensor readings are transmitted to a control unit 7 and detected thereby, and possibly evaluated. It is preferably provided that the actuator 4 is activated by the control unit 7 as a function of the sensor readings of the sensor 6 so as to bring about a change of a property, at least in the reinforcement elements comprising this actuator 4. If feedback exists between the changed property and the sensor reading, and in particular the sensor measures a property of the reinforcement element, a control loop may also be implemented, for example so as to control a desired property of the reinforcement element to a target value.