AU9327998A

AU9327998A - Dike module

Info

Publication number: AU9327998A
Application number: AU93279/98A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Reinhard Schneider
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-09-02
Filing date: 1997-11-17
Publication date: 1999-03-22
Also published as: CA2340349A1; ES2167801T3; EP1009883A1; EP1009883B1; ATE209736T1; DE59705595D1; WO1999011868A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a dike module that can be filled with back-up material and for reinforcing, enlarging, repairing and/or rebuilding a dike. Said module comprises a container (10, 40, 50, 60) of length ranging between 0.5 m and 500 m and height ranging between 0.25 m and 5 m, for receiving the back-up material and having a lower surface resting on the subsoil and two front surfaces (22) obliquely oriented relative to the sea front. The module also comprises a bearing device for maintaining the container (10, 40, 50, 60,) in ready-for-use condition. The container (10, 20, 50, 50) lower surface has, at least partially, a flexible shape enabling it to be adapted to the subsoil, and the dike module has an opening (36) facing upwards and/or an opening (36) facing towards the sea for receiving the back-up material.

Description

1 DIKE MODULE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention s The present invention relates to a dike module fillable with a filling material for the reinforcement, heightening, reparation and/or for the reconstruction of a dike. 2. Description of the prior art 10 Dikes are constructed on the coast, alongside rivers or on other water shores to prevent flooding in case of spring tides or floods. In practice, these dikes often proved to be too low, too weak or damaged and could thus not withstand the water floods. 15 In order to reinforce or heighten dikes in an easy and fast manner, DE 44 17 672 suggested to lay one or several fabric hoses on the dike, said hoses being filled pneumatically from a central filling station with sand or the like. Several of these fabric hoses may then be 20 superposed in the way required by the actual situation. Such nearly endless hoses are difficult to fill, since the necessary pneumatic filling stations are usually not at hand and since the filling takes up a great amount of time. The firm Hesco Group in Leeds, England is producing 25 small, transportable containers which are thought to protect the slope or the shore against damage in case of flooding. These containers are made so as to be foldable, their side walls being made of flexible synthetic material and being stabilized by a wire mesh constituting the outer 30 wall of the container. On the spot, the containers are placed side by side and are filled from the top with sand or the like. Since the opening of these containers which are standing upright and are essentially having a corner jamb stone shape is relatively small, the mechanical 35 filling is complicated and time-consuming. It is not possible to use these containers as rigid dike or as dike reinforcement since such a container dam cannot adapt to the given outline of the ground, so that it 2 is not possible to achieve a water-tight sealing between container and ground. The containers can furthermore not be linked to one another, so that a dam made with these containers may 5 easily be destroyed by individual containers breaking off. US 4,921,373 discloses a flood retaining dam consisting in a combination of a multitude of portable retaining dams filled with a liquid. Each retaining dam has a front and a rear A-like carrier. A flexible container is 10 tentered between the two of them, whereas the A-like carriers are privotable at their peak so that they are foldable. To install this flood retaining dam is laborious and expensive, since lots of individual retaining dams are required and have to be installed. is SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION On these premises, the object of the present invention is to provide a dike module with the help of which a dike may be reinforced, heightened, repaired and/or rebuilt in a 20 fast, easy and cheap manner and which reliably and durably dams the water up. The technical solution provided by the invention is to develop the above-mentioned dike module in equipping it with a container having a length of between 0,5 m and 500 m 25 and a height of between 0,25 m and 5 m, said container receiving the filling material and being provided with a lower side resting on the ground and with two front sides orientated transversely to the water front, and with a supporting device holding the container ready for use, 30 whereas the lower side of the container is at least partially so flexible that the lower side adapts to the ground, and whereas the dike module is provided with an opening which is orientated towards the top and/or towards the water side for receiving the filling material. 35 Preferably water, particularly water from the waters to be dammed up, sand, gravel, earth, stones, mud, clay, stone chips, rumble, concrete, dross or a combination of at least some of the previously cited materials may be used as 3 filling material. A dike module made according to the teaching of this invention has the advantage that, thanks to the partial flexibility of the container, the dike module adapts to the s given surface outline and provides a good sealing between the dike module and the ground, in the way sand bags would do. Another advantage of the first embodiment of the dike module according to the invention is that the container may 10 be filled with filling material from the top and that it has an opening that is so big that great and efficient machines such as bulldozers, diggers, loading tractors, wheel loaders, pump dredgers, tractors or trucks may be used to fill the dike module with bulk material. 15 Another advantage of the dike module according to the invention is that the water which is available in great quantity on the site may be used as filling material. Tests proved that the flood may be successfully dammed up by a water-filled dike module as long as the water level in 20 the container is corresponding at least approximately to the water level of the waters outside. To fill the container with water, it proved efficient to provide the lower part of the container with openings facing the water side through which the water of the flood 25 to be dammed up may enter the dike module and through which it may also flow out when the flood level is dropping. This second embodiment of the dike module according to the present invention has the advantage that it not needs to be filled with bulk material, this feature reducing 30 considerably the costs not only of material but also of machines and staff otherwise needed to install the flood protection wall. The costs arising for the removal of the flood protection wall are also drastically lowered since no bulk material has to be disposed of and since the dike 35 module may be reused ad lib. In a preferred embodiment of the dike module according to the invention, the front wall of the container is at least partially flexible so that it may adapt to 4 neighbouring surfaces. This has the advantage that the dike module may for example be installed against a wall or against a neighbouring dike module and that the cleft remaining between the two bodies may be closed by the 5 flexible front wall, so that a water-tight sealing is achieved. Tests have proved that even if the dike module is not precisely installed, e.g. in a slight angle to the adjacent module or wall, a water-tight sealing is still possible. 10 In another, preferred embodiment, cross bulkheads are provided in the container that are dividing the container into several chambers. This has the advantage that, if the container is damaged, only the filling of this particular chamber is washed out, the other chambers functioning as 15 usual. In still another, preferred embodiment the container and/or the cross bulkheads are made of a material that is resistant to tear and textile-like, particularly of geotextile, flexible synthetics, fabric mats coated with 20 synthetics, tent-cloth, fleece, woven or plaited materials or of fibres, particularly linen cloth or fibre reinforced plastic foils. Such a container has the advantage that the whole lower width and the whole side wall is so flexible that an optimal sealing is achieved between the lower side 25 of the dike module and the ground, or between the side wall of the dike module and the adjacent object. This material is at the same time so robust and resistant to tear that the forces exerted onto the container by the filling material are buffered without any problem. 30 Another advantage is that the dike module made of decay-resistant geotextile or fleece may remain permanently in a dike or any other earth dam, so that a durable heightening or reinforcement of the dike is possible. A dike module permanently inserted in the dike also hinders 35 moles, voles, badgers or other animals to build their nests in the dike, since the textile container represents an insuperable obstacle for them. It thus also reliably prevents an undermining of the dike.

5 In a preferred development of the dike module according to the invention, the supporting device is designed as a rigid support with at least two cross frames and two length beams, the support being located inside the 5 container. The length beams are thereby preferably removably held in the cross frames. The support composed of rigid components is solid, stable and still movable up to a certain limit so that the dike module may also be installed in a slightly twisted or bent way. This makes it possible 10 to store the dismounted dike module in a space-saving manner and to transport it easily. To that purpose, the container made of a textile material is rolled up or folded and the cross frames and the length beams are piled up for storage and transportation. On the site, the textile is container is first unfolded at the desired place, then, the cross frames are installed on the front side at a corresponding spacing before the length beams are inserted into loops provided on the upper side of the container and are later suspended in corresponding borings in the cross 20 frames. A dike module is thus installed in a very short period of time by means of these component parts. This dike module may also be filled with a filling material in an easy and fast manner. In a preferred embodiment, the cross frame is designed 25 as a trapezium, whereas the acute angle of the trapezium is of between 200 and 900, preferably 600. This has the advantage that the dike module is given, from a static point of view, an optimal shape with a low centre of gravity, as this is known of dikes. 30 An advantageous dike module is approximately between 0,8 m and 3 m wide, approximately between 0,5 and 2 m high and up to 250 m long. The opening is extending over the entire length and has a width of between 0,5 m and 1,5 m. In still another embodiment, the support may be 35 provided with a tension belt for securing the dike module. This tension belt is fastened in the soil or on the surface of the street on the water side by means of an earth nail, a peg or the like and additionally secures the dike module 6 against slipping off. In another preferred development, the supporting device is designed as at least one chamber filled with gas, particularly filled with air, that is located on the upper S edge of the container. In using water as a filling material, the gas-filled chamber functions as a float and is swimming on the surface of the water. Hereby, the container made of textile material is erected and constitutes thus the dike module. In order to prevent the 10 container to be pressed apart, which would be an unwanted effect, beam ties are provided at determined intervals between the chambers and are linking the chambers to one another. In a preferred embodiment, holding straps are provided 15 on the container, preferably on the lower edge of the container, with the help of which the dike module may additionally be secured. To this purpose, earth nails or pegs are driven into the ground and are engaged into the holding straps in order to secure the dike module. 20 Such a dike module that has to be filled with bulk material has the advantage that several dike modules may be superposed. To this purpose, two or more dike modules are first of all installed side by side and are filled as well as the interstices or interstice between dike module and 25 dike with bulk material. Then, another dike module is placed onto the space between two adjacent dike modules or onto the space between dike module and dike and is filled together with the newly formed interstices. Thus, it is possible to build a new dike out of several dike modules, 30 to reinforce existing dikes or to heighten existing dikes. Further details may be gathered from the description of the figures. In a preferred embodiment, the container that has to be filled with bulk material is designed so as to be 35 slightly permeable to water in order to achieve a condensation of the filling material and thus an optimal adaptation to the uneven ground when the waters are rising. This may for example be achieved by making the container of 7 water-permeable fleece, of plaited geotextiles or similar materials or in perforating the container if it is made of fibre reinforced plastic foils, tent-cloth, plastic reinforced fabric mats or the like. 5 If this dike module with a water-permeable container is durably remaining in the dike, the filling material is dewatered by the draining effect of the clothing so that the dike is prevented from diluting or getting marshy. The same is true with rain water. 10 In an alternative embodiment, ropes are used instead of the length beams and the container is suspended on them. Therefor, the rope is anchored in the soil by means of for example a peg, an earth nail or the like on one end, then winded around a first cross frame, passed through the long 15 loop of the container, winded around the second cross frame and so on until the rope is again anchored into the soil. This occurs on both sides of the container, so that the container is reliably held open and is ready for filling. The dike module according to the invention is 20 universally usable and may be used, not only to rebuild, reinforce, repair or heighten dams or dikes, but also to advantageously back-fill broken-off dike sections. Furthermore, the dike module according to the invention may advantageously be used to stabilize slopes or inclines, to 25 cover and/or recultivate dumps, particularly salt dumps, waste dumps, coal dumps or the like, to dam up artificial waters, particularly to dam up mud-ponds originating from the processing of ore and pebble stones, as a military protection wall and/or to erect noise protection walls in 30 the area of airports or traffic routes. The dike module according to the invention may also be used for the temporary or permanent accomodation of contaminated substances (solid or liquid) on the site. These contaminated substances may remain in the dike module 35 on the site of use/accident until a definitive disposal is made possible. The dike module may also be used in case of fire or accident for short-term damming and/or canalisation of 8 water for fire fighting and/or of chemicals spilling out. The dike module according to the invention may also be used as oil separator in case of tanker accidents or the like. To this purpose, the spoiled water is filled in the s first chamber of the dike module. The light oil is swimming on top and is flowing via the cross bulkhead into the next chamber, the clean water remaining in the first chamber and so on, so that the separation of the oil from the water is achieved. 10 To use native soil and/or earth as a filling material has the advantage that plants may be set in the dike modules to grow and to green the dike, the dam, the dump, the noise protection wall, the incline, the slope or the like. is Further advantages of the dike module according to the present invention will become more clearly in the description and in the drawing enclosed. The characteristics mentioned above and those mentioned below can be carried out according to the invention either 20 individually or in any combination. The embodiments mentioned are only examples and are not limiting the scope of the invention. The drawing is showing an embodiment as an example of a dike module according to the present invention, with the aid of which the invention will be 25 explained in more details, whereas BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dike module according to the present invention filled with water; 30 FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the dike module according to Fig. 1; FIG. 3 is a sectional view across a dike being reinforced by several dike modules according to the present invention; 35 Fig. 4 is a sectional view across a dike being reinforced and heightened by several dike modules according to the present invention; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a further embodiment 9 of a dike module according to the present invention which is filled with the water of the waters to be dammed up; Fig. 6 is a top view of still another embodiment of a dike module according to the present invention; 5 Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the dike module according to Fig. 6 along line VII - VII in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a top view of still another embodiment of a dike module according to the present invention; Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the dike module 10 according to Fig. 8, along line IX - IX in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a sectional side view of a further embodiment of a dike module according to the present invention along line X - X in Fig. 11; Fig. 11 is a sectional cross view of the dike module is according to Fig. 10, along line XI - XI in Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a side view of another embodiment of a dike module according to the present invention; Fig. 13 is a top view of the dike module according to Fig. 12; 20 Fig. 14 is a sectional partial view of the dike module according to Figs. 12 and 13, along the line XIV XIV in Fig. 12. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S) 25 Figs 1 and 2 show a first embodiment of a dike module according to the present invention which is composed of a textile container 10 and of a support 12 integrated in the container and made of steel tubes. The support 12 includes several trapezoid cross frames 14 made of steel tubes and 30 several length beams 16, also of tubular steel construction. The textile container 10 has an accordingly trapezoid cross section. Holding elements 18 are welded rectangularly onto the free ends of the length beams 16, whereas said holding elements may be inserted into 35 corresponding openings 20 on the upper side of the cross frame 14, so that the support 12 is maintaining the textile container 10 in a cantilevered, ready-to-use position. The dike module is installed as follows: first of all, 10 the container made of plastic-reinforced fabric mats or of geotextile is unfolded on the site where the flood protection wall needs to be heightened or reinforced. Now, at least two cross frames 14 are inserted into the 5 container 10, whereas one cross frame 14 is flushed against the front side 22 of container 10. Then, the first two length beams 16 are guided through loops 24 provided on the upper side of container 10 and are inserted into the opening 20 of the cross frame 14 by means of holding 10 elements 18. Now, the second cross frame 14 is erected and the other end of the length beams 16 is inserted with their holding elements 18 into the corresponding openings 20 of the cross frame 14. The first part of the dike module is now erected and may be filled with a filling material such 15 as for example sand, water or the like. The remaining part of the dike module is mounted in a similar way. In the lower area of the container 10, on the water side, holding straps 26 are provided in regular intervals by means of which the dike module may additionally be 20 secured against gliding off-center. To this end, an earth nail, a peg or the like is driven through the holding straps into the soil. In an embodiment not shown, different cross bulkheads are arranged in the container 10 and are dividing the 25 container 10 into several chambers. It is thus possible to immediately fill the first chambers with a filling material, even if the dike module is not yet completely installed, so that a very effective method of working and mounting is achieved. 30 In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the dike module is filled with water and is additionally secured by the holding straps 26 and the earth nails 28. First tests proved that such a dike module filled with water is already successfully damming up the waters when the water level in 35 the dike module approximately corresponds with the water level in the flood. The dike module shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a width of approximately 2 m at its lower side, a height of 11 approximately 1 m and a length of about 50 m, whereas cross frames are provided at a spacing of 5 m. The trapezium angle is 600, so that the filling opening, which is extending over the entire length of the dike module, has a 5 width of approximately 1 m. On the water side as well as on the land side textile holding straps 26 are also provided at a spacing of 5 m to prevent the dike module from slipping off. That is why it is also possible to install this dike module on an inclined ground. 10 In other embodiments not shown it is also possible to make the dike module shorter or longer, whereas possible lengths may range between 0,5 m and 500 m. In other embodiments it is also possible to adapt the height of the dike module to the actual requirements. It is for example 15 conceivable to build a dike module having a width of 2 m and a height of 3 m. Particularly dike modules to be filled with water may have a height of up to 5 m, whereas in this case, their width may be of up to 8 m. In Figs 3 and 4, dike modules according to the first 20 embodiment presented in Figs 1 and 2 are shown with the difference that they are now filled with sand or another bulk material. As may be seen from Figs 3 and 4, it is easily possible to install the dike module on the land site to reinforce and/or heighten the existing dike. To this 25 purpose, a first dike module is installed in the way described above at the bottom of the dike and is then filled with bulk material together with the interstice between the dike module and the dike. A second dike module is then placed onto the bulk material, whereas here too, 30 the dike module and the new interstice are filled with bulk material and so on. It is thus possible to reinforce the existing dike as may be required and even to heighten it, if necessary and if there are enough dike modules available. It is in the same way possible to erect a 35 completely new dike. In Fig. 5, a second embodiment of a dike module according to the present invention is shown which corresponds to the first embodiment represented in the Figs 12 1 and 2. In addition to the first embodiment shown in Figs 1 and 2, several openings 30 are provided here on the water side of the dike module through which the water of the waters to be dammed up may enter the container 10. This s makes it possible to use the water of the waters to be dammed up as filling material for the dike module. Unlike the first embodiment, the embodiment according to Fig. 5 is provided with tension belts 32 arranged on the support 12, said tension belts being held by earth nails, 10 pegs or the like. The tension belts 32 are kept in place by bars 34 welded onto the cross frame 14 and may be tentered accurately by means of ratchet spanners arranged onto the bars. The cross frame 14 is consisting of steel tubes welded 15 together and having a diameter of approximately 70 mm to 100 mm. The length beams 16 are also made of steel tubes having a diameter of 70 mm to 100 mm. The cross frame 14 has got thereby a trapezoid shape, the acute angle of the trapezium being of 600 to 750. 20 When using water as a filling material, the container 10 is made of a water-tight, tear-resistant and textile like material, particularly of plastic-reinforced fabric mats. These fabric mats may for example be obtained under the trade name Trevira. When using bulk materials such as 25 for example sand for a filling material, the container 10 is made of geotextile or fleece, which is slightly permeable to water. This quality brings the bulk material to settle so that an optimal adaptation to the ground as well as a durable draining is achieved. 30 In Figs 6 and 7, a third embodiment of a dike module according to the present invention is shown, that is also filled with water. This dike module includes a flexible, water-tight, textile-like container 40, on each upper edge of which a chamber 42 to be filled with air is 35 longitudinally arranged. Several beam ties 44 are arranged between the chambers, said' beam ties having the function to prevent the container 40 to be pressed apart by the water pressure. Here too, loops 46 are provided at regular 13 intervals in the lower area, earth nails, pegs or the like being guided through them in order to secure the dike module. This dike module is transported in a rolled up or 5 folded state and is unfolded on the site at the required location. Then, the chambers 42 are for example filled with compressed air before the container 40 is filled with water. The air-filled chambers 42 are now floating on the surface of the water in the container 40, so that, as the 10 container 40 is getting filled, it also gets higher until it reaches its definitive size. Such a container, having a width of up to 3 m, may reach a height of up to 5 m. In an embodiment not shown, the container 40 has a trapezoid section in order to be better able to buffer the aggressing is forces of the flood. In Figs 8 and 9, a fourth embodiment of the dike module according to the present invention is shown. Its functioning is quite similar to the one of the third embodiment represented in Figs 6 and 7. The only 20 difference is that here, several superposed air chambers 42 are provided that constitute the entire wall of the container on the water side as well as on the land side. In this embodiment, two rows of beam ties 44 are arranged one above the other in order to keep the different chambers 42 25 in the required position. In another embodiment of the dike module according to the present invention which is shown in Figs 10 and 11, the container 50 is designed as a hose or a tube and is made of water-tight, flexible, plastic-reinforced fabric mats. 30 Rings 52 made of plastic, metal or steel are arranged at regular intervals in said container 50. Said container 50 is filled with water either on the front side or via filler necks not shown provided on the upper side. This dike module too is secured against sliding off by loops 54. 35 The heavy weight of the water inside the container is pressing onto the flexible material of the container 50 and is pressing it off the steel ring 52 in the lower area, so that this dike module is given a comparatively big seat on 14 the ground. A good sealing of uneven places on the ground is thus achieved at the same time. In another embodiment of the dike module according to the invention that is shown in Figs 12 and 14, the 5 container 60 has a trapezoid section and is composed of a shell 62 on its water side and of a shell 64 on its land side, said shells being made of hard plastic and whereas an approximately 50 cm wide strip of flexible, tear-resistant and textile material is provided between the two shells 62, 10 64. The sealing of the container relative to the ground and to the side surfaces adjacent to the container is achieved via this strip 66. This container 60 too may be additionally secured from slipping off via loops 68 arranged in the lower area. It is also possible to install 15 on the water side a textile apron 69 that prevents the dike module from being washed away.

15 List of numerals s 10 container 12 support 14 cross frame 16 length beam 18 holding element 10 20 opening 22 front side 24 loop 26 holding strap 28 earth nail 15 30 opening 32 tension belt 34 bar 40 container 42 chamber 20 44 beam tie 46 holding strap 50 container 52 steel ring 60 container 25 62 shell 64 shell 66 strip 68 holding strap 69 apron 30

Claims

1. Dike module fillable with a filling material for 5 the reinforcement, heightening, reparation and/or for the construction of a new dike with a container (10, 40, 50, 60) having a length of between 0,5 m and 500 m and a height of between 0,25 m and 5 m, said container receiving the filling material and being provided with a lower side 10 resting on the ground and with two front sides (22) orientated transversely to the water front, and with a supporting device holding the container (10, 40, 50, 60) ready for use, whereas the lower side of the container (10, 40, 50, 60) is at least partially so flexible that the 15 lower side adapts to the ground, characterized in that the dike module is provided with an opening extending along the length of the dike module for the reception of the filling material.

2. Dike module according to claim 1, 20 characterized in that the dike module is provided with one or several openings (30) that are orientated toward the water side and through which the water of the waters to be diked may stream into the container (10).

3. Dike module according to one of the previous 25 claims, characterized in that the supporting device is provided with a rigid bearing structure (12) with at least two cross frames (14) and two length beams (16), whereas the cross frames (14) are arranged inside the container 30 (10).

4. Dike module according to claim 3, characterized in that the length beams (16) are removably held in the cross frames (14).

5. Dike module according to at least one of the claims 35 3 and 4, characterized in that the cross frame (14) is given the shape of a trapezium, whereas the acute angle of the trapezium is of between 200 and 900, preferably of 600. 17

6. Dike module according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that the bearing structure (12) may s be provided with a tension belt (32) securing the dike module.

7. Dike module according to at least one of the previous claims, characterized in that cross bulkheads are provided in 10 the container (10, 40, 50, 60) that divide the container (10, 40, 50, 60) into several chambers.

8. Dike module according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the container (10, 40, 50, 60) 15 and/or the cross bulkheads are made of a textile-like material that is resistant to tearing, particularly of geotextile, flexible synthetics, woven mats coated with synthetics, tent-cloth, fleece, woven or plaited materials or of fibres, particularly linen cloth or fibre reinforced 20 plastic foils.

9. Dike module fillable with a filling material for the reinforcement, heightening, reparation and/or for the construction of a new dike with a container (10, 40, 50, 60) having a length of between 0,5 m and 500 m and a height 25 of between 0,25 m and 5 m, said container receiving the filling material and being provided with a lower side resting on the ground and with two front sides (22) orientated transversely to the water front, and with a supporting device holding the container (10, 40, 50, 60) 30 ready for use, whereas the lower side of the container (10, 40, 50, 60) is at least partially so flexible that the lower side adapts to the ground, and whereas the dike module is provided with an opening which is orientated toward the top and/or toward the water side and receives 35 the filling, characterized in that the supporting device is designed as at least one chamber (42) filled with gas, particularly filled with air, said chamber being preferably 18 located on the upper edge of the container (40).

10. Dike module according to claim 9, s characterized in that opposite chambers (42) are connected to one another by means of at least one beam tie (44).

11. Dike module according to one of the previous claims, 10 characterized in that holding straps (26, 46, 68) are provided on the container (10, 40, 50, 60).

12. Use of a dike module according to at least one of the previous claims for covering and/or recultivating a dump, particularly a salt dump, a coal dump or a waste is dump.

13. Use of a dike module according to at least one of the claims 1 through 11 for erecting a noise protection dam, a boundary wall for mud ponds, a supporting wall for a slope and/or a military protective wall. 20

14. Use of a dike module according to at least one of the claims 1 through 11 , characterized in that water, particularly water from the waters to be dammed up, sand, gravel, earth, stones, mud, clay, stone chips, rumble, concrete, dross or a 25 combination of some of the previously cited materials may be used as a filling (1).

15. Use of a dike module according to at least one of the claims 1 through 11 as a collector for foreign substances, particularly for oil. 30

16. Use of a dike module according to at least one of the claims 1 through 11 for the temporary accommodation of contaminated solid or liquid materials.