Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02D—FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS; UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES
  • E02D29/00—Independent underground or underwater structures; Retaining walls
  • E02D29/02—Retaining or protecting walls
  • E02D29/0225—Retaining or protecting walls comprising retention means in the backfill
  • E02D29/0241—Retaining or protecting walls comprising retention means in the backfill the retention means being reinforced earth elements

Definitions

• Facing panel positioning system reinforced ground structure comprising said system and associated positioning method
• the invention relates to the field of positioning facing panels in order to optimize their settlement, particularly in the context of facing panels arranged in structures of the reinforced soil structure type.
• Structures in reinforced soil traditionally include facing panels, a backfill that fills a backside of the cladding panels, reinforcing elements distributed in the backfill to mechanically stabilize it, and a connection system between the reinforcing elements and the cladding panels. facing.
• the facing panels may for example be made from prefabricated elements in concrete, slabs or blocks, said prefabricated elements being juxtaposed to cover the front face of the structure.
• a work thus produced is known in particular under the commercial reference TerraClass ® of the company TERRE ARMEE INTERNATIONAL.
• facing panels made from a grid or a lattice, including metal rods welded together or woven.
• a structure incorporating such lattices as facing panels may further comprise a geotextile and may be vegetated.
• a work thus produced is known in particular under the trade name TerraTrel ® of the company TERRE ARMEE INTERNATIONAL.
• the cladding panels undergo a settlement due to the pressure exerted by the embankment, as the structure takes height.
• this settlement it is common to install the facing panels progressively row by row, each row defining a level of height equal to that of a facing panel.
• a space of about ten centimeters, typically about 4 cm, is provided between two facing panels belonging to adjacent rows, to allow a progressive settlement of the facing panels when the embankment is added to the rear side of the facing panels.
• the present invention proposes a device for positioning facing panels, comprising:
• At least one first cladding panel and a second cladding panel at least one first cladding panel and a second cladding panel
• the separator has elastic properties configured to maintain a relative reference position between the first and second facing panels, the separator being adapted to undergo progressive elastic deformation under the effect of a stress exerted on the separator by the first and second facing panels, causing a reconciliation between the second facing panel and the first facing panel when the stress is greater than a predefined threshold.
• positioning device can be replaced equivalently by the expression “positioning system”, these two expressions denoting the assembly formed by the first and second facing panels and the separator.
• a separator having elastic properties configured to allow a connection between two facing panels for stresses greater than a predefined threshold avoids the formation of hard spots.
• a separator with elastic properties as defined above no longer has to be removed after settlement of the facing panels.
• the predefined threshold above which the first and second cladding panels begin to approach can typically be equal to or greater than the weight of a cladding board.
• the first facing panel and the second facing panel are lattices.
• the device may further comprise:
• the prestressing force that the connection element exerts on the first and second facing panels corresponds to a reaction force that compensates for the compression forces initially exerted on the facing panels. These forces correspond to a constraint comprising a reaction force substantially equal to the weight of the second facing panel and a compressive force exerted by the embankment located above the separator.
• the predefined threshold may be such that the relative reference position is maintained for a backfill height above the separator less than 2 rows of facing panels. Due to the prestressing force, no settlement of the first and second facing panels then takes place for a stress below the predefined threshold.
• connection element can be chosen from: a wire, a looped hook connector, a U-shaped connector.
• separator can be in the form of a spring.
• the spring may be able to compress until it reaches a thickness equal to the thickness of a coil of the spring.
• the spring may be chosen from: a conical spring and a biconical spring.
• Such springs allow a maximum approximation between the first and second facing panels, offering the best compressibility under the effect of the action of the embankment.
• a biconical spring can also more easily bind to the first and second facing panels because of its ends of substantially equal size and reduced.
• the spring may be in the form of a strip whose first end is connected to the first facing panel and a second end is connected to the second facing panel, the strip having a variable curvature under the effect of the constraint.
• the second facing panel has a bar forming an L-shaped recess, the variable curvature of the spring strip bearing on said bar.
• the separator has a first end connected to an upper reference bar of the first cladding panel and a second end connected to a lower reference bar of the second cladding panel.
• the predefined threshold is reached for a stress corresponding to the weight of a mass of 10 to 20 kg.
• the invention also relates to a reinforced ground structure comprising a device as described above, the structure further comprising a plurality of facing panels arranged one above the other, each panel of the plurality comprising a face front and a rear face, the structure further comprising:
• the constraint being proportional to a backfill height in the reinforced soil structure, the predefined threshold being reached when the embankment covers a height above the first facing panel corresponding to two facing panels.
• the invention also relates to a method of positioning facing panels, comprising:
• the method may further comprise:
• FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a reinforced soil structure according to the invention.
• FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a facing panel positioning system according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of a facing panel positioning system according to a second embodiment of the invention
• - Figure 4 is a schematic representation of a facing panel positioning system according to a third embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a facing panel positioning system according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the evolution as a function of the stress applied to the separator of the spacing between the first and second facing panels of a reinforced soil structure according to the invention.
• the dimensions of the various elements shown in these figures are not necessarily in proportion to their actual dimensions.
• identical references correspond to identical elements.
• the present invention proposes to connect two facing panels by means of a separator having elastic properties adapted to allow settlement of the facing panels without forming hard spots.
• the invention can notably be used in a reinforced floor structure 15 consisting of facing panels.
• the facing panels are generally arranged in superposed rows, either vertically as shown in Figure 1, or in an inclined plane.
• the reinforced soil structure can include a first 1 facing panel and a second facing panel 2.
• the facing panels used in the present invention may be lattices, which may consist of woven metal bars or welded together. These lattices are typically made of galvanized metal bars, such as galvanized iron, welded together or intertwined to form a grid. A mesh of the grid thus obtained can typically have dimensions of between 2 cm by 2 cm and 15 cm by 15 cm.
• Other types of facing panels can also be envisaged, such as composite block panels for example.
• the cladding panels comprise a front face and a rear face. The rear face is filled by embankment 14, which may for example be made of sand or rocks.
• the facing panels may include reinforcing members 13 extending from a rear face of the facing panels into the backfill.
• the facing panels are installed in turn, row by row, and embankment is added to fill the space on the side of the rear face of the facing panels.
• the embankment exerts a compressive force on the facing panels which results in settlement.
• the invention optimizes this settlement by providing a separator 31, 32, 33 between facing panels of adjacent rows.
• This separator is connected to both the first cladding panel and the second cladding panel, by contacting the two panels.
• the contact between ends of the separator and the first and second cladding panels can be achieved in different ways, some of which are presented hereinafter.
• the separator may in particular be in contact with a lower portion of the second facing panel and an upper portion of the first facing panel. As illustrated in Figure 1, the separator may have a first end connected to an upper reference bar 11 of the first 1 facing panel and a second end connected to a lower reference bar 12 of the second 2 facing panel.
• the separator is in the form of a spring arranged in a strip 33.
• the object separator of the facing panel positioning device of the present invention may be in different forms.
• the separator may be a conical spring 31 adapted to compress completely until the space between the first and second facing panels is reduced to a thickness corresponding to thickness of a coil of the conical spring.
• the stiffness of the spring may be chosen so as to allow a gradual settlement of the second facing panel on the first facing panel.
• the space between the two panels is initially maintained at a relative reference position Pr corresponding to a predefined length, and the separator resists the weight of the second facing panel without compressing.
• the predefined length can typically be between 2 cm and 10 cm, for example 4 cm, and may differ from one assembly to another.
• a predefined threshold which may for example correspond to the weight of a mass of 10 to 20 kg or 10 to 30 kg
• the separator compresses and allows a connection between the first and second facing panels.
• the settlement of the facing panels can be controlled by providing several dividers distributed so that two adjacent separators are separated by one meter.
• the properties of the separator (constituent material, dimensions, stiffness) can be adapted to adjust the predefined threshold and the compressive response of the separator under the effect of the stress exerted by the two facing panels submitted for example to the action of the embankment .
• the separator may, in a second embodiment, be in the form of a biconical spring 32, as shown in FIG. 3.
• the conical 31 and biconical springs 32 have the following characteristics: advantage of being able to compress completely until the space between the first 1 and second 2 facing panels is equal to the thickness of a coil of the springs.
• the biconical spring 32 also has the advantage of offering little play when it is connected to the lower reference bar 12 and upper 11 because of the reduced dimensions of the two ends of this spring.
• Each facing panel may comprise a bar 10 forming an L-shaped recess in a lower end portion of the facing panel.
• Such a bar 10 forming an L recess can be used to ensure better stability to the assembly formed by the separator and the first and second facing panels.
• the separator is in the form of a spring arranged in a strip 33.
• the strip 33 has a first end 7 adapted to snap onto the bar of lower reference 12 of the second 2 facing panel, and a second end 8 adapted to snap onto the upper reference bar 11 of the first 1 facing panel.
• the separator may be installed so that only one of the first or second ends does not eclipse on reference bars facing panels.
• the band 33 further comprises a curvature 9 intended to bear on the bar 10 forming an L-shaped recess.
• This curvature 9 can be deformed under the effect of the stress exerted by the facing panels subjected to the action of the embankment.
• the band 33 provides greater stability to the facing panels before adding the embankment.
• the band 33 forms, with the first and second facing panels, an assembly limiting the clearance between panels of facing neighbors.
• the separators presented above have elastic properties configured to maintain a relative reference position Pr between the first and second facing panels until a predefined threshold is exceeded.
• This predefined threshold may for example be greater than or equal to a stress corresponding to the weight of a facing panel. Beyond this predefined threshold, a progressive elastic deformation of the separator allows an almost total approximation of the first and second facing panels under the effect of increasing stress, which may for example result from the compression force exerted by an embankment .
• the stress at the origin of the deformation of the separator increases progressively as backfill is added to the reinforced soil structure.
• This constraint further comprises the reaction force that the second facing panel exerts on the separator, this force being substantially equal to the weight of the facing panel.
• This prestressing can compensate for the initial force exerted by the embankment on the facing panels.
• the prestressing can be exerted by means of a connecting element 5, as shown in FIG. 5.
• the connecting element 5 exerts an initial compressive force bringing the first and second facing panels up to a minimum.
• the separator In this relative reference position Pr imposed by the dimensions of the connecting element, the separator is slightly compressed, and thus exerts on the facing panels a reaction force which compensates for the initial stress. exerted on the panels.
• This initial stress comprises a reaction force substantially corresponding to the weight of the second facing panel, and a compressive force due to the presence of backfill above the separator.
• connection element shown in FIG. 5 is in the form of a looped hook connector, and is associated with a band splitter 33.
• this fourth embodiment can be combined with any other embodiment of the invention. invention, and can be declined in different forms.
• the connecting member 5 may be in the form of a wire, such as a wire, bonding the first and second facing panels.
• a U-shaped connector can also be used.
• Other alternative embodiments for exerting initial prestressing maintaining a relative reference position Pr between the first and second facing panels can be envisaged.
• the connection element can in particular serve as a point of attachment to reinforcing elements, which can for example be attached to the ends of the connection element.
• Figure 6 illustrates in a diagram the evolution of the space D between the first and second facing panels as a function of the stress C exerted on the separator.
• Two curves are shown in solid lines in FIG. 6.
• the first and second solid lines comprise an initial plate 18 corresponding to an absence of deformation of the separator for any stress below a threshold.
• the prestressing exerted by the connecting element 5 which maintains a relative reference position Pr between the first and second facing panels.
• the separator would have an empty length Lvi in the case of the first dashed curve 16 or Lv 2 in the case of the second dashed curve 17.
• the reaction force substantially corresponding to the weight P of the second facing panel compresses the separator until the space D reaches a value Li in the case of the first dashed curve 16 or L 2 in the case of the second dashed curve 17.
• the first dashed curve 16 starting from an empty length Lvi illustrates the deformation that the separator would undergo if it were not prestressed initially .
• the second dashed curve 17 starting from an empty length Lv 2 illustrates the deformation that the separator would undergo if it were not prestressed initially.
• the differences in deformation under the first and second dotted curves 16, 17 may typically be due to different spring stiffnesses.
• the threshold Ct r represents a stress greater than that due to the reaction force corresponding substantially to the weight of the second facing panel. This threshold Ct r can also be adjusted, thus modifying the additional stress due to the action of the embankment located above the separator that the separator can collect before starting to deform beyond the relative reference position Pr.
• the value of the threshold stress Cthr may for example be chosen to correspond to the total stress exerted on the separator when the embankment reaches, in a reinforced soil structure, a height above the first facing panel corresponding to two facing panels. .
• the space between the first and second facing panels is progressively reduced until it reaches a minimum value.
• This deformation depends on the elastic properties of the separator, which can be adjusted by choosing, for example, the stiffness of the separator.
• the first curve 19 illustrates a deformation undergone by a softer separator (of smaller stiffness) than the separator corresponding to the second curve 20.
• the facing panels shown in Figures 1 to 5 are arranged vertically. However, they can also be installed on an inclined surface.
• the trellises may be arranged on a sheet of plant tissue forming a seed support covering topsoil. A geotextile can separate this topsoil from the embankment.
• the separator can be installed in an inclined position matching the slope of the front face of the cladding panels.
• the invention by means of the separator with the elastic properties described above, makes it possible to optimize the positioning of cladding panels and to ensure a settlement of the latter subjected to the compression action of an embankment. Unlike the techniques of the prior art for controlling the settlement of facing panels, the invention does not present the risk of creating hard spots liable to damage the facing panels, and does not require the subsequent removal of the separators after settlement. .

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Paleontology (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Pit Excavations, Shoring, Fill Or Stabilisation Of Slopes (AREA)
• Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)

Priority Applications (6)

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Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2016
  • 2016-04-14 FR FR1653286A patent/FR3050216B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2017
  • 2017-04-14 US US16/090,749 patent/US20190055713A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-04-14 JP JP2018553443A patent/JP2019511659A/ja active Pending
  • 2017-04-14 AU AU2017251583A patent/AU2017251583A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2017-04-14 WO PCT/FR2017/050900 patent/WO2017178770A1/fr active Application Filing
  • 2017-04-14 EP EP17721784.1A patent/EP3443167A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 2017-04-14 CA CA3020979A patent/CA3020979A1/fr not_active Abandoned
• 2018
  • 2018-10-16 ZA ZA2018/06893A patent/ZA201806893B/en unknown

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