FR2844289A1 - SHOCK WAVE PROTECTION BARRIER - Google Patents

Abstract

A shock wave protection barrier comprises, in combination with one another, a plurality of ground retention and reinforcement structures (20, 22), superimposed on one another, so as to form two vertical walls ( 12). The shock wave absorption systems (30) are arranged inside said walls (12). The protective barrier further comprises transverse link systems (14, 50, 80) engaged in the vertical walls (12) to increase the compactness of the protective barrier.

Description

SHOCK WAVE PROTECTION BARRIER

  The present invention relates to a reinforced protective structure and in particular a protective barrier against shock waves, capable of attenuating and absorbing shock waves caused by waves.

  sound and / or by air movement.

  Numerous structures are known which are capable of absorbing shock waves caused by different sources. Generally, these structures can be divided into two types. The first type includes rigid structures strong enough to reflect shock waves. These structures have the advantage of being able to be reused many times, but they are usually heavy, difficult to handle and extremely expensive. The second type includes structures which deform in a limited and predetermined manner, so as to absorb shock waves. These structures are certainly much lighter, less bulky and can also provide suitable protection, but they have the disadvantage of not

  can only be used once.

  The object of the present invention is to provide a protective barrier against shock waves, able to overcome the disadvantages of structures of known type, and which is also able to attenuate and absorb very effectively the shock waves caused by sound waves and / or by

air movement.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective barrier against shock waves, which is economical in terms of manufacture and installation, which is easy to maintain and of high strength.

  even after prolonged use over time.

  In order to achieve these objectives, the present invention relates to a protective barrier against

shock waves.

  One of the main advantages of the present invention is constituted by the simplification of the transport and installation operations of the barrier for protection against shock waves. The retaining and reinforcement elements which constitute the protective barrier against shock waves can be brought to the place of installation in a compact form, and therefore erected and filled with the filling material only at the time of use. Likewise, once used, the barrier can be easily disassembled and transported elsewhere. Another advantage of the present invention lies in the possibility of easily and quickly modifying the dimensions of the protective barrier. On the basis of the technical characteristics of the shock wave source and / or the dimensions and the distance of the element to be protected, it is possible to modify the dimensions of the

  barrier by adding or removing the retaining and reinforcing elements from the grounds which constitute the barrier, or else by modifying their dimensions, or alternatively, by replacing the shock wave absorption systems.

  Other features and advantages will appear

  in the description which follows, with reference to the attached figures, given by way of non-limiting example,

  in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a protective barrier against shock waves according to the present invention; - Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the protective barrier of Figure 1; - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the retaining elements forming the side and upper walls of the protective barrier according to the present invention; FIG. 4 is a perspective view 5 of retaining elements according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; - Figure 5 is a schematic side view of the shock wave protection barrier of the present invention in its operational position; and 10 - Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view

  of the protective barrier illustrated in FIG. 5.

  Referring now to the figures, a protective barrier against shock waves, able to attenuate and absorb shock waves caused by sound waves and / or by air movements, according to the present invention , comprises a main structure 10, of substantially pyramidal or rectangular shape, having two front walls 12, vertical transverse 14 and horizontal connecting systems 50, 80, and a

cover 16.

  The front walls 12 include several retaining and ground reinforcement elements 20, 22 produced, by way of nonlimiting example, by means of one or more metallic mesh panels, preferably a metallic mesh with hexagonal meshes, folded to form a box structure and filled with a filling material 21. As can be seen in the figures, the retaining and reinforcing elements 20, 22 30 are superimposed one on the other in several rows and parallel to each other relative to their longitudinal axis and they may preferably be, but are not limited to, identical dimensions. The retaining and reinforcing elements 20, 22 of each wall 12 can be arranged slightly offset from each other, so that the main structure 10 takes a shape

substantially pyramidal.

  The cover 16 is preferably formed also of one or more reinforcing and retaining elements of 5 pitches, arranged transversely on the rows

  reinforcing and retaining elements 20, 22.

  As illustrated in FIG. 2, the two front walls 12 are connected to each other by means of vertical transverse connection devices, by way of nonlimiting example, by vertical panels 14 of wire mesh, preferably a wire mesh hexagonal. The vertical transverse connecting means 14, in addition to closing the structure and protecting the retaining and reinforcing elements 20, 22, 15 are used to increase the compactness of the protective barrier 10. Naturally, the vertical transverse connecting devices may also be produced differently from what is illustrated, for example by means of geosynthetic panels, metal panels, panels of sound-absorbing material, and / or

  other retaining and reinforcement elements.

  As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the elements

  retaining and reinforcement 20, 22, used for the production of the protective barrier 10, can be produced according to different methods and forms.

  Certain retaining elements and reinforcement 20 comprise, by way of nonlimiting example, a single panel of wire mesh divided into a basic position 50, which exercises the function of horizontal transverse connection system, an intermediate portion 52 which exerts the front wall function of the reinforcing and retaining element 20, and an upper cover portion 54 of the reinforcing and retaining element 20. The three portions are delimited between them, preferably, by 35 metal bars used , both as reinforcement means and as fold lines of said portions 50, 52, 54. On the base portion 50 of the wire mesh panel are articulated other panels 60 which constitute for use the side walls and the rear wall 5 of the box structure of the reinforcing and retaining element 20, inside which is inserted a filling material 21, such as, for example, sand, ca illoux, stones or similar material as

  can also be found on site.

  Other retaining elements include substantially box-shaped structures, made with several panels of wire mesh, preferably a wire mesh with hexagonal meshes, interconnected. According to a preferred embodiment, these retaining and reinforcing elements are produced, by way of nonlimiting example, with gabions 22. The gabions 22 comprise at least four walls, among which an upper wall which constitutes an element of cover, a bottom wall, two side walls, and a pair of walls which form a front wall and a rear wall of the gabion. Inside the gabions 22 is inserted a filling material 21, such as, for example, sand, stones, stones or the like which can also be found on site. Gabions 22, generally, are of dimensions such that their length is greater than their width, and their height is substantially equal to their width. According to this embodiment, the gabions 22 are connected to horizontal transverse connection systems 80 comprising panels in

  metallic or geosynthetic mesh.

  Naturally, the horizontal transverse connection systems 50, 80 may also be produced differently from what is illustrated, for example, by means of geosynthetic panels, without however leaving the

part of the present invention.

  Still as illustrated in FIG. 3, the retaining and reinforcing elements used for making the cover 16 of the protective barrier 10 are, generally, also gabions, the height of which is less than their width. According to another embodiment, the cover 16 of the protective barrier 10 can be produced by means of several protective elements of the mattress type, comprising a flexible outer envelope which covers a gabion made of metallic material and filled, as non-limiting example, with a mixture composed of bitumen, sand and

stones or pebbles.

  The shock wave protective barrier of the present invention further comprises absorption systems 30 for attenuating and absorbing the shock waves caused by sound waves and / or by air movements. Shock wave absorption systems include, by way of nonlimiting example, containers filled with liquids, preferably bags

filled with water.

  Naturally, a person skilled in the art will easily be able to determine shock wave absorption systems different from those described and which also have a high absorption coefficient, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention. The reduction and absorption of shock waves can indeed be obtained also by means of absorption devices 30 such as, by way of nonlimiting example, expanded polyurethane combined with a layer of bitumen, flexible expanded polyurethane with cells. open, or materials

fibrous in general.

  The liquid containers 30 or other absorption systems 35 can be arranged inside other retaining and reinforcing elements 40 situated inside between the two front walls 12. The retaining and reinforcing elements internal 40 are of variable dimensions with each other and able to fill the space 5 comprised between the retaining and reinforcing elements 20, 22 which form the two front walls 12. The internal retaining and reinforcing elements 40 can be gabions or, more generally, substantially box-shaped structures, made with one or more metal mesh panels, preferably a mesh

metallic hexagonal mesh.

  Naturally, the shape and arrangement of the reinforcing and retaining elements described and illustrated so far in the attached figures are given by way of simple non-limiting example. Those skilled in the art will indeed be able to easily modify its form and arrangement, without going beyond the ambit of the

present invention.

  For the production of a protective barrier against shock waves according to the present invention, a

  plurality of earth retaining and reinforcing structures 20, 22, 40, in the form of wire mesh panels, are brought to the place of their installation.

  Here, we have horizontal transverse connecting means 50, 80, on which the panels are folded so as to form first retaining and ground reinforcement structures 20, 22, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The retaining structures and land reinforcement 20, 22 are therefore superimposed on each other 30 to constitute the opposite front walls 12 of the protective barrier 10, and filled with pebbles, sand, stones or a similar material. Between the two front walls 12 are then inserted second retention and ground reinforcement structures 35 40, inside which are located the containers for liquids 30 or other shock wave absorption systems. Finally, the transverse connection systems 14 and the cover 16 are arranged so as to form the barrier

  shock wave protection required.

  As illustrated in FIG. 5, the protective barrier 10 is situated in a predetermined position, relative to a source of shock waves 64, so as to attenuate and absorb the shock waves 62 directed towards a target to be protected 70. The distance and the dimensions of the barrier 10 can be calculated in advance, based on the technical characteristics of the wave source.

  64 and the objective to be protected 70.

  In use, as illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 6, the shock waves 62 coming from the source 64 firstly touch the front walls 12 of the barrier 10 and in particular the retaining and ground reinforcement structures 20 , 22 filled with sand, pebbles, stones or similar material. Already, this first impact makes it possible to attenuate and disperse a considerable portion of the shock waves 62. Then, the shock waves 62 pass through the absorption systems 30, where they are considerably attenuated and absorbed, thanks to the physical characteristics of said waves. systems, like, for example, water. Finally, the residual shock waves 62 pass through the other front wall 12 and in particular the structures for retaining and reinforcing grounds 20, 22 filled with sand, stones, stones or similar material. Another advantage of the present invention is constituted by the fact that the shock waves meet three absorption states having different technical and physical characteristics from one another, by way of nonlimiting example, of stones and water or 35 other soundproofing materials. These variations

  allow greater absorption and an attenuation of shock waves even more effective than devices of known type.

  Naturally, while maintaining the principle of the invention, the embodiments and the details of embodiment may vary widely from. which is described and illustrated, without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (10)

  1. barrier for protection against shock waves, characterized in that it comprises, in combination   between them, a number of retaining and ground reinforcement structures (20, 22) superimposed on each other, so as to form two vertical walls (12) and shock wave absorption systems (30) , arranged inside 10 of said walls (12).   2. Protective barrier according to claim 1,   characterized in that it further comprises transverse connection systems (14, 50, 80) engaged on the vertical walls (12) to increase the compactness of the protective barrier.   3. Protective barrier according to claim 2, characterized in that the transverse connection systems comprise vertical panels (14) and horizontal panels (50,80).   4. Protective barrier according to claim 3, characterized in that the vertical panels (14) and horizontal (50,80) are made with panels wire mesh.   5. Protective barrier according to claim 3, characterized in that the vertical (14) and horizontal (50,80) panels are made with geosynthetic panels. 6. Protective barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the shock wave absorption systems (30) are arranged inside other   earth retaining and reinforcing structures (40).   7. Protective barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the absorption systems   shock waves include sound-absorbing materials.   8. Protective barrier according to claim 7, characterized in that the shock wave absorption systems comprise containers filled with liquid (30).   9. Protective barrier according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining structures of the ground reinforcement (20, 22) are filled with sand, stones, stones or similar material (21) 10. Barrier for protection against shock waves, characterized in that it comprises, in combination with each other, the first retaining structures and ground reinforcement (20, 22), superimposed on each other , so as to form two vertical walls (12) opposite, the first structures (20, 22) comprising 15 box portions filled with sand, stones, stones or similar material, second retaining and reinforcement structures ground (40) arranged inside the vertical walls (12), and shock wave absorption systems (30) arranged inside the second retaining structures and reinforcement of the grounds (40).