FR2702784A1 - Element for constructing a retaining construction, and retaining wall - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a construction element (1) for a retaining construction such as a retaining wall, characterised in that it has at least overall the shape of a regular prism with isosceles trapezoidal base (5) comprising a large face and a small face which are parallel to each other, and two inclined faces (4). The invention also relates to a retaining wall produced from a plurality of such construction elements (1).

Description

ELENENT OF CONSTRUCTION OF A SUPPORT STRUCTURE
AND NUR OF SUPPORT
The invention relates to a building element of a retaining structure and a retaining wall made from such building elements.

 Numerous types of construction elements are already known, generally consisting of solid monolithic concrete blocks which are assembled and / or stacked without the addition of mortar or binder to produce retaining structures, in particular embankment retaining walls, along roadsides, highways, wharves or other construction sites, or even climbing walls.

Generally, the blocks are of generally parallelepiped shape and do not allow significant variations in their method of assembly. Also, a connecting means is often provided between the blocks so as to improve the resistance to the horizontal thrust generated by the earth to be supported. In a known embodiment, the blocks are linked by means of keys engaged in grooves of complementary shapes formed in facing faces of two adjacent and / or superimposed blocks. In this case, however, the shape of the key which must be manufactured specifically generates an additional cost. In addition, these blocks intended to form heavy walls are heavy and therefore delicate to handle. Finally, it is desirable to provide possibilities for water flow between the elements in order to prevent an excessive hydraulic thrust from destabilizes the structure which is not designed in this regard.

 The invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

 The object of the invention is therefore to propose a construction element which, by virtue of its shape, provides significant possibilities for varying the method of assembling the elements together, in particular to allow the method of assembly to be adapted to mechanical requirements. and / or economic and / or aesthetic, or other aspects of the work to be carried out.

 The object of the invention is also to propose a construction element which allows the keying of the elements together in an economical manner.

 Another object of the invention is to propose a construction element which incorporates means facilitating its handling in complete safety.

 Another object of the invention is to provide a construction element which, by virtue of its shape, makes it easier to place the construction elements in relation to one another.

 The invention also aims to provide a building element which incorporates means facilitating the flow of water horizontally, through the structure to be produced.

 The invention also aims to propose a retaining wall whose general shape and mechanical and / or economic and / or aesthetic characteristics can be chosen from a wide range of possibilities.

 To do this, the invention relates to a building element of a retaining structure characterized in that it has at least generally the shape of a straight prism with isosceles trapezoidal bases therefore comprising a large face and a small parallel face l 'to one another and two inclined faces of the same dimensions joining the small face and the large face on each side. According to the invention, the inclined faces form with the large face an angle between 45 and 750 in particular of the order of 600; the small face has the same length as the inclined faces; the length of the large face is of the order of twice that of the small face; the small face is at least substantially square.

 The invention also relates to a construction element of a retaining structure of the type comprising keying grooves characterized in that each keying groove has a semicircular cross section. The element according to the invention comprises at least one keying groove on each trapezoidal base and more particularly a keying groove on a trapezoidal base, which is located midway between the large and small faces. The keyways extend parallel to the small and large faces.

 The invention also relates to a building element for a retaining structure characterized in that it comprises at least one through hole between two of its opposite external faces, in particular between its small and large faces. According to the invention, the through hole extends along a main axis of symmetry of the element. And according to the invention, the through hole opens on each face on a median recess set back from this face allowing the passage of a handling sling without forming a projection outside the envelope volume of the element.

 The invention also relates to a building element for a retaining structure, characterized in that each of its external faces comprises either a median keying groove or a median recess.

 The invention also relates to such a construction element, the small and large faces of which each have a recessed median recess. According to the invention, the median indentation of the large face has a width greater than or equal to that of the small face and the median indentation of the small face has a width greater than or equal to that of the portion projecting from the large face. on either side of its median recess. In addition, each inclined face has at least one recessed recess - in particular median extending between the trapezoidal bases -.

 The invention also relates to such a construction element which consists of a solid monolithic block - in particular of concrete -.

 And the invention also relates to a retaining wall characterized in that it consists of an assembly and / or a stack, without mortar or binder of elements according to the invention. According to the invention, the elements are assembled and / or stacked by resting on one of their horizontal trapezoidal bases, cylindrical keys being inserted between the adjacent elements and / or by resting on one of their inclined faces; and / or by resting on their small face and / or their large face.

These methods of assembling and / or stacking the elements together can be combined.

 The invention also relates to a building element and a retaining wall comprising in combination all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below.

 The construction element according to the invention allows, by its shape, great possibilities of assembly whose mechanical and / or economic characteristics (the density and the material cost of the structure thus formed can vary) and / or aesthetic can be adjusted as required. In addition, the semicircular keying grooves allow the use of cylindrical keys made from simple tubes. The presence of the median recesses also makes it possible to carry out in part and in certain cases an assembly of the tenon / mortise type or a keying between two opposite recesses. The through breakthrough and the recesses allow the drainage water to flow horizontally through the and the through hole allows easy handling thanks to a sling which can be installed or removed even when the elements are assembled and / or stacked.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description which refers to the appended figures in which
Figures 1 to 4 are views respectively from above, from the front, from behind and from the left of a preferred embodiment of a construction element according to the invention resting on one of its trapezoidal bases.

 Figures 5 to 14 illustrate, without limitation, various examples of assembly of building elements according to the invention to form a retaining wall according to the invention.

 Figures 1 to 4 show a building element 1 according to the invention in the form of a block of solid monolithic concrete, vibrated molded which has at least generally the shape of a right prism defining two identical bases 5 parallel one to the other isosceles trapezoidal; a large face 2 and a small face 3 parallel to each other and perpendicular to the long sides respectively to the short sides of the trapezoidal bases 5; and two inclined lateral faces 4 perpendicular to the inclined sides of the trapezoidal bases 5 and connecting the large face 2 and the small face 3. The expression "has at least generally the shape" means that the envelope volume of this construction element 1 has the form of such a straight prism even if all the faces of the element 1 do not necessarily correspond entirely to the faces of such a prism.

 Such a building element 1 in the form of a straight prism with trapezoidal bases provides extremely large assembly possibilities.

 According to the invention, the inclined faces 4 form with the large face 2 an angle a of between 45 and 75, in particular of the order of 60 ". More particularly, the value of the angle a of the order of 600 provides many advantages during the assembly of the elements 1, in particular when the elements 1 rest on one of their inclined faces 4, and achieves a compromise which makes it possible both to benefit from the advantages of the trapezoidal bases 5 while avoiding weakening when extreme the corners at an acute angle between the inclined faces 4 and the large face 2.

 Furthermore according to the invention, the small face 3 has the same width as the inclined faces 4, and the width of the large face 2 is of the order of twice that of the small face 3. And the small face 3 thus that the inclined faces 4 are at least substantially identical and square, and the large face 2 is a rectangle corresponding to two such faces 3 or 4.

 Furthermore, all the connecting edges of the external faces 2, 3, 4, 5 between them two by two are rounded.

 The construction element 1 according to the invention can have a width (distance between the large face 2 and the small face 3) of the order of 1 meter, a height (distance between the two trapezoidal bases 5) corresponding to the width of the small face 3 and inclined faces 4 of the order of 1 m, in particular 1.16 m, the width of the large face 2 being of the order of 2 m, in particular 2.32 m. Its total volume is then around 2m3 so that it can weigh around 5 tonnes.

 Furthermore, the above shapes and dimensions are such that the building element according to the invention can rest on any of its external faces 2, 3, 4, 5 in stable equilibrium.

The building element 1 according to the invention comprises keying grooves 6 each of them having a semicircular cross section. Such keying grooves 6 can be provided at least on each of two of its opposite faces. According to the invention, a keying groove 6 is provided on each trapezoidal base 5, each keying groove 6 extending parallel to and halfway between the large and small faces 2, 3. Each keying groove 6 has for example a diameter of the order of 0.13 m. It is thus possible to use keys 16 in the form of a cylindrical tube. These keys can be produced in the form of a tube in
PVC filled with concrete or in the form of a hollow tube, for example a cast iron tube. The keys may consist of portions of tube inserted at the junction between the construction elements 1 or extend continuously along all the keyways 6. In the latter case, and when the keys 16 are hollow tubes, these hollow keys can be used to pass the hydraulic and / or pneumatic and / or electrical cables. For example, one can insert into a hollow cylindrical tube forming a key for the elements 1, an electric cable triggering, when cut, an alarm signal. Consequently, when the assembly and / or the stack of construction elements 1 is damaged, the rupture of this electric cable can cause the triggering of an alarm.

 The construction element 1 according to the invention also comprises at least one through hole 7 extending between two of its opposite external faces 2, 3, 4, 5. The through hole 7 extends along one of the main axes of symmetry of element 1. In the embodiment shown, and according to the invention, the through hole 7 extends between the small face 3 and the large face 2, halfway between the two trapezoidal bases 5.

 Furthermore, each of the faces 2, 3 of the element 1 on which the through-hole 7 opens out has a median recess 8, 9 extending back from this face 2, 3 to allow the passage of a sling 11 for handling in the through hole 7 and along the faces 2, 3 without forming a projection outside the envelope volume of the element 1 (Figure 4). The recessed median recesses 8, 9 are therefore set back relative to the main plane of the face 2, 3 by a distance greater than or equal to the normal thickness of the sling 11 intended to be used to carry the element 1 For example, this withdrawal is between 2 and 5 cm. Thus, according to the invention, the large face 2 and the small face 3 each have a recessed median recess 8, 9 extending over the entire height of the large and small face 2, 3 perpendicularly to and between the trapezoidal bases 5. Also, each inclined face 4 comprises at least one recess or recessed groove, in particular a recessed median recess 10. Such a median recess 10 set back from the inclined faces 4 makes it possible, when it extends perpendicularly and between the trapezoidal bases 5, to block the inclined face 4 relative to the small face 3 on which it can rest (case of FIG. 10) thanks to the use of a prefabricated key or of concrete poured in place interposed between two opposite recesses. Furthermore, the reinforcements 8, 9, 10 extend horizontally perpendicular to the retaining wall (in the case of FIGS. 5, 6 and 12), they promote the flow of water horizontally through the wall. The water can also be flowed through the through hole 7.

 Furthermore, the median recesses 8, 9, set back from the large face 2 and the small face 3 can serve as housing for receiving edge portions 12, 13 projecting relative to the recesses 8, 9 on these faces 2, 3, or housing for receiving another face 3, 4. Thus, according to the invention, the median recess 8 of the large face 2 has a width greater than or equal to the width of the small face 3 which can therefore be inserted into the median recess 8 of the large face 2 of another element 1. Also, the median recess 9 of the small face 3 has a width greater than or equal to that of the portion 12 remaining protruding from the large face 2 of on either side of its median recess 8, so that such a projecting portion 12 can be received in the median recess 9 of a small face 3 of another element 1.

 In the aforementioned example, the median recess 8 of the large face 2 has for example a width of the order of 1.30 m, and the median reinforcement 9 of the small face 3 and the median reinforcement 10 of each inclined face have for example a width of 0.60 m.

 According to the invention, each median recess 8, 9, 10 extends parallel to and over the entire length of one of the sides of the corresponding face 2, 3, 4. And each of the external faces 2, 3, 4, 5 of an element 1 according to the invention comprises either a central keying groove 6, or a central recess 8, 9, 10.

 Furthermore, the free ends 14, 15 of the through hole 7 opening onto the large face 2 and onto the small face 3 are flared, for example constituted by a housing of larger diameter than the current diameter of this cylindrical through hole 7 In this way, these ends 14, 15 can receive the head of a lag screw or a bolt which does not protrude relative to the median recess surface 8, 9. In addition, the sling 11 does not come to the contact of an acute angle edge.

 FIG. 5 represents a first embodiment of a retaining wall according to the invention in which the elements 1 are assembled and / or stacked, resting on their small face 3 and / or on their large face 2. Two elements 1 which are contiguous on the same horizontal row are oriented head to tail. Several levels can be superimposed. The elements 1 of two different levels can be vertically aligned or offset from each other.

 Figure 6 shows in perspective an embodiment similar to that of Figure 5 in which the superimposed levels are offset so that the protruding edge portions 12, 13 of the large faces 2 and small faces 3 are received in the recesses 8, 9 of elements 1 of the lower level.

 Figure 8 shows in perspective another embodiment of a wall according to the invention in which the elements 1 rest on one of their inclined faces 4 and are arranged parallel to each other, in contact with each other by their trapezoidal bases 5. The elements are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the trapezoidal bases 5 which are in contact over their entire surface.

 FIG. 7 is a view from the left of the facade of the retaining wall shown in FIG. 8.

 FIG. 9 shows in perspective another embodiment of a retaining wall according to the invention in which the elements 1 are assembled and / or stacked by resting on their horizontal trapezoidal base 5, cylindrical keys of revolution 16 being inserted between the superimposed and adjacent elements 1 in the keying grooves 6. The keys 16 only consist of tube portions placed at the junction of two adjacent elements 1 which delimit the same row and between two levels of elements 1. As a variant, the keying grooves 6 of the elements 1 of the same level being aligned with each other, the keys 16 can be made of the same tube extending over the entire length of the corresponding level. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, the elements 1 of the same level are placed head to tail in pairs. The embodiment of FIG. 13 is a variant of that of FIG. 9 in which the elements 1 of the same level are oriented in the same direction, that is to say with their small faces 3 oriented in the same direction. The density of the retaining wall is then much lower. The levels of elements 1 stacked one on the other are placed head to tail. Horizontal openings 17 are thus formed in the retaining wall. These openings 17 can be used to receive plantings visible from the exterior facade of the wall. Alternatively, one could also provide that all the elements 1 of the wall are all oriented in the same direction whatever their level.

 In the variant of FIG. 10, the lower elements 1 rest on their large face 2 and adjoin each other by their trapezoidal base 5. The elements 1 of the upper level rest on their inclined face 4 bearing on the small faces 3 of the lower 1 elements.

 In FIG. 12, it can be seen that the inclined face 4 of an upper element 1 can rest in a median recess 8 of a large face 2 of a lower element 1.

 In FIGS. 11 and 14, an embodiment is shown in which the elements 1 rest on their trapezoidal base 5 and adjoin two by two by their large face 2 and / or their small face 3. In this case, it is possible to either orient the elements 1 in the same direction (figure 11), or mount and arrange the elements 1 head to tail (figure 14). It is also possible to join the elements 1 of the same level by series by means of long bolts 18. This strengthens the cohesion of the wall.

 The embodiment of FIG. 11 can for example also be used to form a breakwater, the water coming to break on the acute angles formed between the inclined faces 4 and the large faces 2.

 The invention can be the subject of numerous variants with respect to the assembly and stacking methods shown in the figures. The building element 1 indeed provides a very large number of possibilities. In particular, the retaining wall can naturally take an inclination relative to the vertical resulting from the angle formed between the inclined faces 4 and the large faces 2 (Figures 8 and 10). The through holes 7 facilitate the handling of the element 1, both for the construction of the retaining wall or for its demolition and the recovery of the elements 1.

Claims (23)

 1. Construction element of a retaining structure characterized in that it has at least generally the shape of a straight prism with isosceles trapezoidal bases (5) therefore comprising a large face (2) and a small face (3) parallel and two inclined faces (4).  2. Element according to claim 1, characterized in that it consists of a solid monolithic block including concrete.  3. Element according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the inclined faces (4) form with the large face (2) an angle (a) between 45 and 750, in particular of the order of 600.  4. Element according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the small face (3) has the same width as the inclined faces (4).  5. Element according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the small face (3) is at least substantially square.  6. Element according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the width of the large face (2) is of the order of twice that of the small face (3).  7. Element according to one of claims 1 to 6 comprising keying grooves (6) characterized in that each keying groove (6) has a semicircular cross section.  8. Element according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one keying groove (6) on each trapezoidal base (5).  9. Element according to one of claims 7 to 8, characterized in that the keying grooves (6) extend parallel to the small and large faces (3, 2).  10. Element according to one of claims 7 to 9 characterized in that it comprises a keying groove (6) by trapezoidal base midway between the large and small faces (2, 3).  11. Element according to one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that it comprises at least one through hole (7) between two of its opposite end faces (2, 3, 4, 5).  12. Element according to claim 11, characterized in that the through hole (7) extends along its main axis of symmetry.  13. Element according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that it comprises a through hole (7) between its small and large faces (3, 2).  14. Element according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the through hole (7) opens on each face (2, 3) in a median recess (8, 9) set back from this face (2, 3 ) allowing passage of a handling sling (11) without projecting outside the envelope volume of the element.  15. Element according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that its small and large faces (3, 2) each have a recess (9, 8) median recessed.  16. Element according to claim 15, characterized in that the median recess (8) of the large face (2) has a width greater than or equal to that of the small face (3).  17. Element according to one of claims 15 and 16, characterized in that the median recess (9) of the small face (3) has a width greater than or equal to that of the portion (12) projecting from the large face (2) on either side of its median recess (8).  18. Element according to one of claims 15 to 17, characterized in that each inclined face (4) has at least one recess (10) recessed.  19. Element according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that each of its external faces (2, 3, 4, 5) comprises either a central keying groove (6) or a central recess (8, 9, 10).  20. Retaining wall characterized in that it consists of an assembly and / or a stack without mortar or binder of elements (1) according to one of claims 1 to 20.  21. Wall according to claim 20, characterized in that elements (1) are assembled and / or stacked by resting on their trapezoidal bases, cylindrical keys (16) being inserted between the adjacent elements (1).  22. Wall according to one of claims 20 and 21, characterized in that elements (1) are assembled and / or stacked by resting on their inclined faces (4).  23. Wall according to one of claims 20 to 22, characterized in that elements (1) are assembled and / or stacked by resting on their small face (3) and / or their large face (2).