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| Titel |
Coastal protection using topological interlocking blocks |
| VerfasserIn |
Elena Pasternak, Arcady Dyskin, Charitha Pattiaratchi, Efim Pelinovsky |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2013
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 15 (2013) |
| Datensatznummer |
250079199
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| Zusammenfassung |
| The coastal protection systems mainly rely on the self-weight of armour blocks to ensure its
stability. We propose a system of interlocking armour blocks, which form plate-shape
assemblies. The shape and the position of the blocks are chosen in such a way as to impose
kinematic constraints that prevent the blocks from being removed from the assembly.
The topological interlocking shapes include simple convex blocks such as platonic
solids, the most practical being tetrahedra, cubes and octahedra. Another class of
topological interlocking blocks is so-called osteomorphic blocks, which form plate-like
assemblies tolerant to random block removal (almost 25% of blocks need to be
removed for the assembly to loose integrity). Both classes require peripheral constraint,
which can be provided either by the weight of the blocks or post-tensioned internal
cables.
The interlocking assemblies provide increased stability because lifting one block involves
lifting (and bending) the whole assembly. We model the effect of interlocking by introducing
an equivalent additional self-weight of the armour blocks. This additional self-weight is
proportional to the critical pressure needed to cause bending of the interlocking assembly
when it loses stability. Using beam approximation we find an equivalent stability coefficient
for interlocking. It is found to be greater than the stability coefficient of a structure with
similar blocks without interlocking. In the case when the peripheral constraint is provided by
the weight of the blocks and for the slope angle of 45o, the effective stability coefficient for a
structure of 100 blocks is 33% higher than the one for a similar structure without
interlocking. Further increase in the stability coefficient can be reached by a specially
constructed peripheral constraint system, for instance by using post-tension cables. |
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