EP4251806A1

EP4251806A1 - Protective structure

Info

Publication number: EP4251806A1
Application number: EP21834735.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ahren Bichler; Gernot Stelzer; Matthias Jakob; Alex STROUTH
Original assignee: TRUMER SCHUTZBAUTEN GESMBH
Current assignee: TRUMER SCHUTZBAUTEN GESMBH
Priority date: 2020-11-30
Filing date: 2021-11-29
Publication date: 2023-10-04
Also published as: DE102020131710A1; CA3203599A1; AU2021386419A1; AU2021386419A9; CL2023001547A1; WO2022112563A1; US20240035241A1; JP2023550835A

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective structure (1) for protecting against moving masses, namely avalanches, rockfalls, mudflows and tree falls, comprising: - a plurality of ballast-filled wall elements (2), which are spaced apart next to each other on a support surface; and - a connection assembly (3) between every two adjacent wall elements (2), each connection assembly connecting the two adjacent wall elements (2) and allowing relative movement between the two wall elements (2); wherein the wall elements (2) can be moved relative to the support surface and relative to each other by the moving mass, namely avalanche, rockfall, mudflow or tree fall, for dissipative conversion of energy.

Description

protection

description

The present invention relates to a protective structure to protect against moving masses, in particular avalanches, falling rocks, debris flows or felling.

A typical protective structure is shown, for example, in EP 1 500 747 A1. Supporting pillars are anchored to the ground using appropriate foundations and net structures are stretched between the supporting pillars. In addition to the foundations, the pillars can be further fixed using anchors or piles. The erection of the concrete foundations, the anchors and the piles requires special machines and is therefore expensive and complex.

It is the object of the present invention to specify a protective structure to protect against moving masses, which offers effective protection while being simple to manufacture.

The invention shows a protective structure to protect against moving masses. The moving masses are in particular avalanches, rockfalls, mudslides or felling of trees. The protective barrier "protects" against these moving masses by slowing down the masses by the protective barrier and, in the best case, stopping them completely. The masses generally move downhill. Accordingly, the protective barrier is positioned on a slope, at the foot of a slope or in a river bed, which due to its inclination also represents a slope.

The protective structure includes several ballast-filled wall elements. In the simplest case, at least two of these wall elements are provided. Each wall element is initially hollow. This cavity of the wall element represents a "ballast volume". After the wall element has been positioned at the desired location, i.e. during the erection of the protective barrier, the wall element is filled with ballast.

The individual wall elements, which together form a protective structure, are arranged next to one another and at a distance from one another on a support surface. The bearing surface on which the wall elements are positioned is preferably not sealed, especially not concreted. This is particularly preferably the soil that is present anyway or the rocky subsoil; if necessary, the bearing surface can be compacted. In particular, the support surface is not a road, and preferably also not any other roadway.

The protective structure has at least one connection arrangement which is arranged between two adjacent wall elements. If only two wall elements are used, a connection arrangement is provided which connects these two wall elements to one another. In a preferred embodiment, however, it is provided that more than two wall elements are used. In particular, at least three, preferably at least 4, particularly preferably at least 5 of the ballast-filled wall elements are used. Lined up like a chain, these wall elements are positioned next to each other and at a distance from one another. Each two adjacent wall elements are connected with a connection arrangement.

At least one of the connection arrangements, but preferably each of the connection arrangements, is designed in such a way that the two adjacent wall elements can move relative to one another. In particular, the respective connecting element enables a relative rotational movement, in particular about the vertical axis, of the two adjacent wall elements to one another. The vertical axis is defined perpendicular to the bearing surface.

The wall elements are designed and positioned in such a way that the wall elements can move relative to the support surface (that is to say relative to the floor) and relative to one another as a result of the moving mass which strikes the wall elements. This results in a dissipative energy conversion to brake the moving mass and thus to protect against the moving mass.

A "direction of impact" is defined. When erecting the protective barrier, it is assumed that the moving mass comes from this impact direction. Accordingly, the front sides of the wall elements face the impact direction. The at least two wall elements are in particular arranged substantially perpendicular to the direction of impact. The moving mass hits the fronts of the wall elements. The wall elements are shifted over the support surface. Due to the movable connection arrangement, the wall elements can also move towards one another. In particular, if the movable mass hits the chain of wall elements in the middle, the wall elements will move towards one another with their front sides. The connection arrangements are in particular designed in such a way that they connect the respective wall elements directly and directly to one another. The connection arrangements are particularly preferably only attached to the wall elements—and not to the support surface or other elements.

It is preferably provided that the wall elements are arranged without a foundation. This means that there is no foundation under the wall panels to which they are attached or into which they are attached.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the wall elements are arranged without anchors or without restraints. This means that the wall elements are not attached using, for example, tie rods. However, in certain configurations it is possible to fasten the wall elements with tie rods in order to avoid movement of the wall elements in the case of relatively small impacts. However, such anchorages can then be designed in such a way that if the mass to be expected is correspondingly large, these anchorages tear off and the wall elements are thus moved for dissipative energy conversion.

Bulk material is preferably used as ballast for filling the wall elements; in particular, these are stones and/or earth and/or gravel. Preferably, bulk material is used that is already available at the erection site of the protective barrier, so that this material does not have to be transported to the site of the protective barrier.

In order to provide sufficient resistance to the movable mass, a certain ballast volume of the individual wall elements is preferably provided. This ballast volume is preferably at least 0.5 m ³ or preferably at least 1 m ³ or preferably at least 5 m ³ or preferably at least 15 m ³ or preferably at least 20 m ³ . Furthermore, an upper limit for the ballast volume is preferably provided, so that the wall element is not designed to be too heavy and consequently remains movable. The upper limit for the ballast volume is preferably 200 m ³ .

The wall element preferably has a plurality of walls. In particular, a bottom wall is provided which rests on the bearing surface. Extending upwards from this bottom wall is at least one front wall which forms the front of the wall element and faces the moving mass. Furthermore, several side walls can be provided, which also extend upwards from the bottom wall. For example, in the case of a cuboid configuration of the wall element, this has two side walls and a rear wall in addition to the front wall. A cover wall can be provided on the upper side of the wall element. However, it is possible to leave the top of the wall element open.

Provision is preferably made for at least one of the walls to be formed by a grid, a net or a closed surface, preferably made of sheet metal.

According to one possible embodiment, a sea freight container (also referred to as an iso-container) is used as the wall element. When using the sea freight container, all walls are formed as closed surfaces; if necessary, the top wall is removed. Thus, the invention includes the use of sea freight containers as wall elements; in particular, 8-foot, 20-foot or 40-foot containers are used here.

However, it is also intended to use any other three-dimensional body with the same or different walls, ie with a lattice, mesh or closed surface, as the wall element. In particular, it is provided that the wall element has a stable frame, for example made of steel girders, with this frame being planked on its sides with different walls.

The connection arrangements between the wall elements can be designed differently or the same within the one protective structure. Accordingly, a protective barrier can have several of the configurations of the connection arrangement described below:

It is preferably provided that at least one connection arrangement comprises a catch structure. This catch structure is in particular a catch net or a catch rope.

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that at least one of the connection arrangements comprises a braking element. The connection arrangement can only comprise braking elements, optionally with additional connection elements. Alternatively, it is also possible to combine at least one braking element with the catching structure mentioned above, so that the individual connection arrangement has a catching structure and at least one braking element.

In a known manner, the braking element comprises a structure provided for dissipative energy conversion, for example a metal element which is plastically deformed for braking a movement. For example, a braking element can have a wedge that moves through the plastically deformable structure for dissipative energy conversion.

In addition or as an alternative to the catching structure and/or the braking elements, the individual connection arrangement can comprise at least one connection element: The Connection elements can be rigid elements, eg chain links and/or shackles. At least two of these rigid elements can movably interlock. Furthermore, the individual connecting element z. B. also be a cable, especially steel cable, or a bolt connection (also: hinge).

Furthermore, it is preferably provided that the individual connection arrangement comprises a plurality of connection devices. Each connecting device is connected to both wall elements. The individual connecting devices are in particular arranged one above the other and together form the connecting arrangement. For example, two to 20 such connection devices are provided in a connection arrangement. Each connecting device, in turn, can in particular include chain links or/or steel cables and/or braking elements.

As already described, each wall element has a front side with which the wall element faces the moving mass to be expected. This front side can also be called the mountain side. According to the front side, a front half or a front third can be defined on the wall element. Provision is preferably made for at least one of the connection arrangements, in particular all connection arrangements, to be attached to the wall element exclusively in the front half, preferably in the front third, of the respective wall element. This has the following advantage: It is assumed that the mass hits the middle of the chain of several wall elements. This pushes the center panel (or multiple panels associated with the center) away from the mass. The wall elements arranged on the side move inward and face one another with their front sides. In order to allow this movement from a more or less linear arrangement of the chain to a U-shaped arrangement without overly stressing the connection arrangements in tension, the connection arrangements are preferably arranged as far forward as possible on the wall elements.

Depending on the application, an arrangement of at least one connection arrangement in the region of the valley side of the respective wall element can also be useful: each wall element has a rear side facing away from the front. This back side can also be called the valley side. A rear half or a rear third can be defined on the wall element, corresponding to the rear. Provision is preferably made for at least one of the connection arrangements, in particular all connection arrangements, to be attached to the wall element exclusively in the rear half, preferably in the rear third, of the respective wall element. This has the advantage that the impacting mass can fill up the free space between the wall elements and itself thus the mobility of the wall elements is stiffened relative to one another - as a result, at the beginning of the impact of the mass there is still a relatively large mobility, which, however, decreases with increasing filling of the free space.

In particular, the individual protective structure has a number of free spaces between wall elements and therefore also a number of connection arrangements. Consequently, at least one connection arrangement can be arranged on the mountain side and at least one connection arrangement on the valley side in a protective barrier.

Furthermore, the invention shows a method for protection against moving masses, in particular for braking the moving mass. The protective structure described is erected on a slope, at the foot of a slope or in a river bed, so that the wall elements can be moved relative to one another and over the bearing surface by a mass moving down the slope, namely an avalanche, rockfall, debris flow or falling wood. In particular, the wall elements are actually moved relative to each other and over the support surface by the moving mass.

In particular, the method provides that, in the course of raising the protective structure, the wall elements are first positioned at the desired location and in the empty state and then filled with ballast, in particular bulk material.

Furthermore, the use of the protective structure described above on a slope or at the foot of a slope or in a river bed as protection against the moving masses, namely avalanches, falling rocks, debris flows and felling, is provided.

Further details, advantages and features of the present invention result from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawings. Show it:

1 shows a schematic representation of a protective structure according to the invention according to an exemplary embodiment,

2 shows a schematic representation of the protective structure according to the invention according to the exemplary embodiment with an alternative connection arrangement, and

3 shows a schematic representation of the protective structure according to the invention according to the exemplary embodiment with a further alternative of the connection arrangement.

An exemplary embodiment of the protective structure 1 is explained in detail below with reference to FIGS. The protective structure 1 is used and positioned to brake a moving mass and thus protect against the moving mass. In the Schematic representations of Figures 1 to 3, the movable mass is expected in the impact direction 100.

The protective structure 1 comprises a plurality of wall elements 2. In the figures, three wall elements 2 are arranged next to one another by way of example. However, the protective structure 1 can also have only two of the wall elements 2 or more than three wall elements 2 .

In each case two adjacent wall elements 2 are connected to one another via a connecting arrangement 3 . In the example shown, the connection arrangement 3 comprises three connection devices 4 arranged one above the other. Each connection device 4 is connected to the two wall elements 2 in each case.

Identical connection arrangements 3 are shown in each of the three figures. However, different connection arrangements 3 can also be used in a single protective structure 1 .

FIG. 1 shows that the connection arrangement can have 3 chain links. With such chain links, or for example alternatively with steel cables, it is possible to firmly connect the wall elements 2 to one another on the one hand and to enable a relative movement between the wall elements 2 on the other hand.

FIG. 2 shows that the connection arrangement 3 has three connection devices 4 arranged one above the other, each with a braking element 20 . Such braking elements include plastically deformable structures, in particular made of steel, which can be deformed for dissipative energy conversion. Such braking elements 20 make it possible for the wall elements 20 not only to rotate in relation to one another when the mass impacts, but also to a certain extent to move away from one another.

FIG. 3 shows a connection arrangement 3 with a catch structure 21, designed here as a catch net. The catching structure 21 extends between the two adjacent wall elements 2. In each case between the catching structure 21 and the respective wall element 2, the connection arrangement 3 comprises braking elements 20, so that a combination of catching structure 21 and braking elements 20 is involved here.

The figures show that the connection arrangement 3 is fastened to the wall elements 2 as far forward as possible, that is to say on the mountain side.

The schematic representations in the figures show the wall elements 2 without ballast. In fact, however, the wall elements 2 are, in particular completely, filled with ballast. The entire ballast in the respective wall element 2 then forms the ballast volume of the wall element 2.

FIG. 1 makes it clear that the wall element 2 has a bottom wall 5 with which the wall element 2 stands on the supporting surface. From this bottom wall 5, facing the impact direction 100, the front wall 7 extends upwards. Side walls 6 and a rear wall 9 are provided on the side and on the back. A cover wall 8 can be inserted at the top. However, it is also possible to leave the wall element 2 open at the top.

The individual wall element 2 has a wall element height 10 . In particular, the height of the surface facing the impact direction 100 is decisive here, in the exemplary embodiment shown the front wall 7 . This surface facing the impact direction 100 has a wall element length 12 . In the depth direction, in particular parallel or slightly inclined to the impact direction 100, the wall element 2 extends over a wall element depth 11. The decisive factor for the definition of the wall element depth 11 is the side lying on the support surface, in this case the bottom wall 5.

Preferably and independently of the specific embodiment shown here, it is provided that the wall element depth 11 is sufficiently large compared to the wall element height 10 so that when the mass hits the wall element slips but does not tip over. In particular, it is provided that the wall element height is at most 150%, preferably at most 120%, particularly preferably at most 100% of the wall element depth 11 .

The figures also show a connecting length 13 which corresponds to the distance between the wall elements 2. In the variants according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the connection length 13 is relatively small, since the connection arrangement 3 is formed by means of rigid elements or the braking elements 20 here. In the variant according to FIG. 3, the connection length 13 is correspondingly longer, since the catch structure 21 is arranged between the wall elements 2 here.

It is preferably provided, independently of the exemplary embodiment specifically shown here, that the connection length 13 is preferably 30 cm, in particular 50 cm, as the lower limit. Alternatively or additionally, it is preferably provided that an upper limit of the connection length is 30 m, in particular 10 m.

In addition to the above written description of the invention, explicit reference is hereby made to the graphic representation of the invention in FIGS. 1 to 3 for its supplementary disclosure. reference list

1 protective structure

2 wall element

3 connection arrangement

4 connection device

5 bottom wall

6 side wall

7 front wall

8 cover wall

9 rear wall

10 wall panel height

11 wall panel depth

12 wall element length

13 connection length

20 braking element

21 catch structure

100 direction of impact

Claims

Expectations

1. protective barrier (1) to protect against moving masses, namely avalanches,

rockfalls, mudslides and felling,

• with several ballast-filled wall elements (2) which are spaced apart from each other on a bearing surface,

• and each having a connection arrangement (3) between two adjacent wall elements (2), which connects the two adjacent wall elements (2) and enables a relative movement between the two wall elements (2),

• wherein the wall elements (2) can be moved relative to the support surface and relative to one another by the moving mass, namely avalanche, rock fall, debris flow or falling wood, for dissipative energy conversion.

2. Protective structure according to claim 1, with at least three, preferably at least four, particularly preferably at least five, of the ballast-filled wall elements (2).

3. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall elements (2) are filled with bulk material, in particular stones and/or earth and/or gravel.

4. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a ballast volume of the wall elements (2) comprises at least 0.5 cubic meters, preferably at least 1 cubic meter, more preferably at least 5 cubic meters, more preferably at least 15 cubic meters, particularly preferably at least 20 cubic meters.

5. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one wall (5 to 9) of at least one wall element (2) has a grid or a net or a closed surface, preferably made of sheet metal.

6. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection arrangement (3) between at least two wall elements (2) allows a relative rotational movement of the two wall elements (2), in particular about the vertical axis.

7. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection arrangement (3) between at least two wall elements (2) comprises a catching structure (21), in particular a safety net or safety rope.

8. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection arrangement (3) between at least two wall elements (2) comprises a braking element (20).

9. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection arrangement (3) between at least two wall elements (2) comprises at least one chain link and/or at least one shackle and/or at least one rope and/or at least one bolt connection.

10. Protective barrier according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting arrangement (3) between at least two wall elements (2) comprises a plurality of connecting devices (4) arranged one above the other, each connecting device (4) being connected to both wall elements (2).

11. Protective structure according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wall elements (2) have a front side to face the moving mass and a back side opposite the front side,

• wherein at least one connection arrangement (3) between at least two wall elements (2) is attached to the wall element (3) exclusively in the front half, preferably in the front third, of the respective wall element (3).

• and/or wherein at least one connection arrangement (3) between at least two wall elements (2) is attached to the wall element (3) exclusively in the rear half, preferably in the rear third, of the respective wall element (3).

12. Use of sea freight containers as wall elements (2) of a protective structure (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

13. A method for protection against moving masses, namely avalanches, falling rocks, mudslides and felling, wherein a protective barrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 is placed on a slope or a slope foot, so that the wall elements (2) by a mass moving down the slope, namely an avalanche, rockfall, debris flow or falling wood, can be moved relative to one another and over the bearing surface.

14. Use of a protective barrier (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 on a slope or at the foot of a slope as protection against moving masses, namely avalanches, falling rocks, mudslides and felling of trees.