Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Description
REINFORCING STRIP FOR SUPPORTING REINFORCED
EARTH WALL AND ITS PLACEMENT METHOD
Technical Field
[ 1] The present invention relates to a reinforcing strip for supporting a
reinforced earth
wall and a method for placing the same, and more particularly to a reinforcing
strip for
supporting a reinforced earth wall, the front end of which is folded into
halves and is
directly inserted into a reinforcing strip insertion groove formed in an earth
wall block
so that the reinforcing strip is firmly and simply connected to the block
without using
sub-materials, such as anchors or anchor pins, and is not sagged to prevent
the con-
centration of stress thereon so that defects in placement of the reinforcing
strip are not
generated, the portion, buried under the reinforced earth wall, of which is
not folded
and is spread to exert frictional support force upon the reinforced earth
wall, and the
rear end of which exerts passive support resisting force, and a method for
placing the
same.
[2]
Background Art
[3] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the constructed state of a
conventional
reinforced earth wall using earth wall construction blocks and reinforcing
strips. The
reinforced earth wall is constructed such that front ends (F) of reinforcing
strips 2 for
supporting blocks 1 forming the front surface of the earth wall are connected
to the
blocks 1 by anchors 3 and anchor pins 4, and other portions of the reinforcing
strips 2
are spread and buried under a reinforced earth 5.
[4] In the above conventional reinforced earth wall using the reinforcing
strips 2, since
the anchors 3 and the anchor pins 4 for connecting the reinforcing strips 2
and the
blocks 1 must be installed at respective connection portions between the
reinforcing
strips 2 and the blocks 1, the numbers of the anchors 3 and the anchor pins 4
are at
least several times the number of the blocks 1, thereby increasing costs of
sub-
materials. Further, in a processing for connecting the reinforcing strips 2
and the
blocks 1, since the front ends (F) of the reinforcing strips 2 surrounds the
anchor pins
4, rear ends (R) of the reinforcing strips 2 must be fixed to temporary fixing
steel rods
6 by fixing piles 7 so that the reinforcing strips 2 are tightened such that
folded
portions of the reinforcing strips 2 have a small radius of curvature so as
not to be
sagged, thereby causing a problem in requiring additional sub-materials. The
above
sub-materials are buried in the reinforced earth 5 when the earth wall is
constructed,
and cannot be reused, thus squandering resources and increasing construction
costs.
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Further, the tightening process of the reinforcing strips 2 requires many
persons simul-
taneously and is tough, and the process for temporary fixing the reinforcing
strips 2 to
the reinforced earth 5 under the condition that the reinforcing strips 2 are
tightened is
inefficient, thus deteriorating the constructing efficiency of the reinforced
earth wall.
[5] Since the conventional reinforcing strip has a connection portion with a
block
having a rigid structure against vertical movement, the surface of the
structure, i.e., the
surface of the earth wall consisting of the blocks, is greatly displaced due
to the
subsidence of the reinforced earth after construction. Further, since the
front end (F) of
the reinforcing strip is folded so that the front end (F) has a small radius
of curvature,
stress is concentrated on the folded front end (F) of the reinforcing strip
after the con-
struction. Moreover, since connection materials having different shapes or
dimensions
are used according to the sizes and the shapes of the connection portions
between the
blocks and the reinforcing strips, the construction costs are increased due to
the
addition of sub-materials and the efficiency in constructing the reinforcing
earth wall is
deteriorated. When the connection materials are used, efforts to assure safety
of the
connection structures between the blocks and the reinforcing strips must be
made.
[6] Since the conventional reinforcing strips have a width larger than the
size of the
blocks, the construction density of the reinforcing strips is low compared to
the size
and number of the blocks forming the reinforced earth wall. Thereby, the
constructed
reinforced earth wall has an unstable structure.
[7] In order to solve the above problems, the present applicant has developed
various
apparatuses for tightening a reinforcing strip using the principle of a wire
grip and
methods for tightening a reinforcing strip using the same so that a person can
easily
and efficiently tighten the above reinforcing strip, and obtained Korean
Patent Nos.
302139 and 404128, and Korean Utility Model Registration Nos. 216353, 21457,
221903, 223133, and 314862. The above apparatuses and methods are
substantially
applied to construction sites.
[8] Using the above apparatuses and methods, the process for tightening the
reinforcing
strip of the conventional reinforced earth wall is more easily and rapidly
performed.
However, sub-materials, such as the anchors, the anchor pins, and the
temporary fixing
steel rods, for connecting the reinforcing strips to the blocks and
maintaining the
tightened states of the reinforcing strips before the reinforcing strips are
buried under
the reinforcing earth are still required, thus causing the same problems.
Those skilled
in the art, such as the present applicant and persons related to the
construction of the
reinforced earth walls, have made a study of the resolution of the above
problems, but
any measurement has not been yet proposed.
191
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Disclosure of Invention
Technical Problem
[10] Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above
problems, and
it is an object of the present invention to provide a reinforcing strip, for
supporting a
reinforced earth wall, which is directly connected to an earth wall
construction block
without an anchor and an anchor pin so that a plurality of the reinforcing
strips are con-
tinuously placed on a reinforced earth in a zigzag shape or are individually
placed on
the reinforced earth to firmly support the blocks, and has construction
density cor-
responding to the size and number of the blocks, and a method for placing the
same.
[11]
Technical Solution
[12] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and
other objects
can be accomplished by the provision of a method for placing reinforcing
strips for
supporting a reinforced earth wall, in which front ends of the reinforcing
strips are
inserted into reinforcing strip insertion grooves of blocks forming the
surface of the
reinforced earth wall under the condition that the front ends of the
reinforcing strips are
folded into halves in the lengthwise direction so as to have a half width.
[13] Rear ends of the reinforcing strips installed in a reinforced earth in a
zigzag shape
are folded in the width direction, and the folded rear ends of the reinforcing
strips are
buried under the reinforced earth wall under the condition that the rear ends
are fixed
to the reinforced earth by temporary fixing nails or fixed to resistors made
of concrete
blocks by fixing pins, are buried under the reinforced earth wall or inserted
into the
resistors by the fixing pins under the condition that the rear ends are folded
into halves
and erected in the lengthwise direction.
[14] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a re-
inforcing strip, for supporting a reinforced earth wall, comprising a
plurality of
polyester fabric bundles arranged in parallel and coated with polyethylene
resin,
wherein a folding groove is formed in a central portion of the reinforcing
strip in the
lengthwise direction so that the central portion of the reinforcing strip has
a smaller
thickness than other portions of the reinforcing strip.
[15] Preferably, the folding groove is formed in upper and lower surfaces of
the re-
inforcing strip, and facilitates the upward or downward folding of the
reinforcing strip
in the lengthwise direction.
[16] More preferably, protrusions for displaying the length of the reinforcing
strip are
rectilinearly formed in the lengthwise direction of the reinforcing strip such
that the
protrusions are separated from each other by a designated interval of 500 or
lm. The
protrusions serve to estimate the length of the reinforcing strip without
using a ruler,
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thereby facilitating the cutting or folding of the reinforcing strip to a
designated length.
[17]
Advantageous Effects
[18] The present invention provides a reinforcing strip, for supporting a
reinforced earth
wall, which is directly connected to an earth wall construction block without
an anchor
or an anchor pin to facilitate the connection between the reinforcing strip
and the block
without additional sub-material costs, the front end of which is folded into
halves and
is directly inserted into a reinforcing strip insertion groove formed in the
block to
prevent the sagging of the reinforcing strip, and the rear end of which is
folded into
halves or erected and serves as a resistor or uses a separate resistor so that
the rear end
of the reinforcing strip is easily fixed to a reinforced earth wall by a
temporary fixing
nail, is used in a reinforced earth having a narrow area, or exerts more firm
supporting
force, and a method for placing the same, thereby improving the constructing
efficiency and reducing material costs and labor costs, thus being capable of
eco-
nomically constructing a reinforced earth wall.
[19]
Brief Description of the Drawings
[20] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present
invention
will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken
in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[21] FIG. 1 illustrates perspective and partially enlarged views of a
reinforcing strip in
accordance with the present invention;
[22] FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a method for placing a
reinforcing strip in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[23] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a method for placing a
reinforcing strip in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
[24] FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating a method for placing a
reinforcing strip in
accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention;
[25] FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a method for placing a
reinforcing strip in
accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
[26] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the reinforcing
strip
connected to a block in the method of the present invention;
[27] FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a method for placing a reinforcing
strip in
accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;
[28] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a method for placing a
reinforcing strip in
accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;
[29] FIG. 9 is a perspective view illustrating a method for placing a
reinforcing strip in
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accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and
[30] FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating the placement of a
conventional re-
inforcing strip.
[31]
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
[32] Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in
detail
with reference to the annexed drawings.
[33] FIG. 1 illustrates perspective and partially enlarged views of a
reinforcing strip in
accordance with the present invention. The reinforcing strip 10 of the present
invention
comprises a plurality of polyester fabric bundles 12 arranged in parallel, and
a
polyethylene clothing layer 14 covering the outer surfaces of the polyester
fabric
bundles 12. A folding groove 16 is formed in the central portion of the
reinforcing strip
in the lengthwise direction of the reinforcing strip 10 such that the folding
groove
16 has a smaller thickness than other portions of the reinforcing strip, and
protrusions
18 for displaying the length of the reinforcing strip, which are rectilinearly
arranged in
the lengthwise direction of the reinforcing strip 10 and are separated from
each other
by a designated interval of 500 or lm, are formed in the widthwise direction
of the re-
inforcing strip 10.
[34] The reinforcing strip 10 of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, is
structured
such that the polyester fabric bundles 12 having the same number are arranged
on both
sides, i.e., left and right sides, of the reinforcing strip 10 centering on
the folding
groove 16. Accordingly, when the reinforcing strip 10 is folded at the folding
groove
16, both halves of the reinforcing strip 10, i.e., left and right halves of
the reinforcing
strip 10, are overlapped. The reason is that the reinforcing strip 10 is
directly inserted
into a reinforcing strip insertion groove 22 of an earth wall construction
block 20.
Since the overall width and thickness of the reinforcing strip 10 are related
to the size
of the reinforcing strip insertion groove 22 of the earth wall construction
block 20, the
earth wall construction block 20 and the reinforcing strip 10 must be designed
in con-
sideration of the above relation.
[35] Although FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of the reinforcing strip 10, in
which two
polyester fabric bundles 12 are arranged at both sides of the folding groove
16, the
structure of the reinforcing strip 10 is not limited thereto. That is, the
number of the
polyester fabric bundles 12, which are arranged at both sides of the folding
groove 16,
may be increased or decreased.
[36] In the present invention, the folding groove 16 is formed in upper and
lower
surfaces of the reinforcing strips 10 so as to facilitate the upward and
downward
folding of the reinforcing strip 10 into halves in the lengthwise direction,
thereby
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increasing workability in a site regardless of the folding direction.
[37] The protrusions 18 for displaying the length of the reinforcing strip 10
are rec-
tilinearly arranged in the lengthwise direction of the reinforcing strip 10
and are
separated from each other by a designated interval of 500 or lm in the
widthwise
direction of the reinforcing strip 10, so that the protrusions 18 are seen
with the naked
eye. The protrusions 18 serve to allow a worker in a placement site of the
reinforcing
strip 10 to rapidly and precisely estimate the length of the reinforcing strip
10 without
measuring the length of the reinforcing strip 10, thereby allowing the worker
to cut or
fold the reinforcing strip 10 to a designated length.
[38] Hereinafter, various methods for constructing the above reinforcing strip
of the
present invention to support a reinforced earth wall will be described in
detail.
[39] FIGS. 2 to 5 respectively illustrate methods for constructing reinforcing
strips in
accordance with various embodiments of the present invention. In the
embodiment
shown in FIG. 2, the front ends (F) of the reinforcing strips 10 are inserted
into the re-
inforcing strip insertion grooves 22 of the blocks 10 forming the surface of
the
reinforced earth wall under the condition that the front ends (F) of the
reinforcing strips
are folded into halves, so that the reinforcing strips 10 placed on a
reinforced earth
50 are arranged in a zigzag shape. The front ends (F) of the reinforcing
strips 10 are se-
quentially and continuously inserted into the reinforcing strip insertion
grooves 22 of
the blocks 20.
[40] In this embodiment, the rear ends (R) of the reinforcing strips 10 are
fixed to the
reinforced earth 50 by temporary fixing nails 30 such that the rear ends (R)
of the re-
inforcing strip 10 are folded into halves in the lengthwise direction and the
folded
states of the rear ends (R) are maintained, and are coated again with the
reinforcing
earth 50, and then the reinforcing earth 50 coating the rear ends (R) is
hardened.
[41] FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the reinforcing
strip
connected to the block in the method of the present invention. Reference
numera160
represents a U-shaped protector made of synthetic resin and used to insert the
front end
(F) of the reinforcing strip 10 folded into halves into the reinforcing strip
insertion
groove 22 of the block 20. The protector 60 serves to cause the front end (F)
of the re-
inforcing strip, folded into halves, to be inserted into an insertion groove
62 formed
therein so as to uniformly maintain the folded state of the reinforcing strip
10, and to
maximally prevent the front end (F) of the reinforcing strip 10 from rubbing
with the
rough surface of the block 20 made of concrete, thereby decreasing the damage
to the
reinforcing strip 10.
[42] The protector may be used or the use of the protector may be omitted, as
occasion
in a construction site demands.
[43] Since the front ends (F) of the reinforcing strips 10 are inserted into
the reinforcing
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strip insertion grooves 22 of the blocks 20, the reinforcing strips 10 and the
blocks 20
are directly connected without separate anchors or anchor pins. Further,
vertical
connection pins 70 for connecting upper and lower blocks 10 are installed in
the re-
inforcing strip insertion grooves 22, thereby causing the reinforcing strips
10 to more
firmly support the blocks 20.
[44] FIG. 3 illustrates a method for placing a reinforcing strip in accordance
with a
second embodiment of the present invention. Front ends (F) and middle portions
of the
reinforcing strips 10 of this embodiment have the same structures as those of
the earlier
embodiment as shown in FIG. 2. However, in the reinforcing strip 10 of this
embodiment, rear ends (R) of the reinforcing strip 10 are laid down under the
condition
that the rear ends of the reinforcing strips 10 are folded in the widthwise
direction so as
to be overlapped, are fixed to the reinforced earth 50 by temporary fixing
nails 5, and
are then buried under another layer of the reinforced earth 50.
[45] FIG. 4 illustrates a method for placing a reinforcing strip in accordance
with a third
embodiment of the present invention. Front ends (F) and middle portions of the
re-
inforcing strips 10 of this embodiment have the same structures as those of
the earlier
embodiment as shown in FIG. 2. However, in the reinforcing strip 10 of this
embodiment, rear ends (R) of the reinforcing strip 10 are inserted into
resistors 40
made of concrete under the condition that the rear ends (R) of the reinforcing
strip 10
are folded in the widthwise direction, and are connected to the resistors 40
by fixing
pins 42.
[46] FIG. 5 illustrates a method for placing a reinforcing strip in accordance
with a
fourth embodiment of the present invention. The reinforcing strip of this
embodiment
has a structure similar to that of the earlier embodiment as shown in FIG. 3.
However,
in the reinforcing strip 10 of this embodiment, rear ends (R) of the
reinforcing strip 10
are inserted into resistors 40 under the condition that the rear ends (R) of
the re-
inforcing strip 10 are folded into halves in the lengthwise direction, and are
connected
to the resistors 40 by fixing pins 42.
[47] The methods as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are applied to a construction site
requiring
a reinforcing strip, on which passive resistance as well as frictional
resistance is
exerted, by connecting the resistors 40 to the rear ends (R) of the
reinforcing strip 10.
[48] Although the methods in accordance with the embodiments as shown in FIGS.
2 to
illustrate the reinforcing strips 10 continuously placed on the reinforced
earth 50 in a
zigzag shape, the present invention is not limited to the above shape of the
reinforcing
strips 10. That is, as shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing strips 10 are cut to a
designated
length, and the front ends (F) of the obtained cut reinforcing strips 10 are
folded into
halves in the lengthwise direction and inserted into the reinforcing strip
insertion
grooves 22 of the blocks 20, and the rear ends (R) of the cut reinforcing
strips 10 are
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spread, and are buried under the reinforced earth 50.
[49] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate methods for constructing reinforcing strips in
accordance
with sixth and seventh embodiments of the present invention.
[50] The methods shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 are the same as the methods in
accordance
with the first to fifth embodiments in that the front ends (F) of the
reinforcing strip 10
are folded into halves in the lengthwise direction and connected to the
reinforcing strip
insertion grooves 22 of the blocks 22, but differs from the methods in
accordance with
the first to fifth embodiments in that the front ends (F) of the reinforcing
strips 10 are
simultaneously inserted into the reinforcing strip insertion grooves 22 formed
in the
neighboring blocks 20 (in FIG. 8) or inserted into the reinforcing strip
insertion
grooves 22 formed in left and right sides of one block 20 (in FIG. 9).
[51] In the methods as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, since the rear ends (R) of the
reinforcing
strips 10 are buried under the reinforced earth 50 under the condition that
the rear ends
(R) of the reinforcing strips 10 are folded into halves in the lengthwise
direction,
passive support resisting force is exerted on the reinforcing strips 10 in
addition to the
frictional force exerted on the middle portions of the reinforcing strips 10.
If necessary,
the reinforcing strips 10 may be buried under the reinforced earth 50 under
the
condition that the rear ends (R) of the reinforcing strips 10 are not folded
into halves,
are spread, and are vertically erected.
[52] The method for placing a reinforcing strip of the present invention is
not limited to
the above first to seventh embodiments. That is, the shape or size of portions
of the re-
inforcing strip connected to the block forming the earth wall may be modified
according to various shapes of the block. The connection of the reinforcing
strips to the
blocks does not employ separate sub-materials, but is simply completed by
inserting
the front ends of the reinforcing strips to the reinforcing strip insertion
grooves of the
blocks under the condition that the front ends of the reinforcing strips are
folded into
halves in the lengthwise direction. Since the portions of the reinforcing
strips
connected to the blocks are firmly connected to the reinforcing strip
insertion grooves
of the blocks, the connection portions (folding portions) of the reinforcing
strips are
not easily separated from the blocks during construction. Further, the
concentration of
stress onto the connection portions and the sagging of the reinforcing strips,
which was
generated when the conventional reinforcing strips were connected to the
blocks using
metal anchors and metal anchor pines, are not generated, thus preventing the
irregular
protrusion of the earth wall. Boundary portions between the folded portions of
the re-
inforcing strips, inserted into the reinforcing strip insertion grooves of the
blocks, and
the spread portions of the reinforcing strips buried under the earth wall
serve as buffer
zones for preventing concentration of stress generated due to the spreading of
the
folding portions or the folding of the spread portions when the reinforced
earth
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subsides and preventing breakage of the blocks due to the concentrated
vertical load
applied to the blocks due to the subsidence of the reinforced earth.
[53] When the rear ends of the reinforcing strips are buried under the
reinforced earth
under the condition that the rear ends of the reinforcing strips are folded
into halves in
the lengthwise direction without using separate materials or not folded and
erected,
passive resisting force is exerted on the rear ends of the reinforcing strips
in addition to
fractional force of the reinforcing strips, thereby facilitating a more firm
and stable
construction of the reinforced earth wall.
[54] The reinforcing strip of the present invention has a width half the width
of the con-
ventional strips, thus being easily carried and handled in a construction
site. Further,
since the width of the reinforcing strip is proper to the size of the block,
the reinforcing
strip is designed such that the construction density of the reinforcing strip
is optimum.
Accordingly, it is possible to construct a reinforced earth wall having a
stable structure
using the minimum of materials.
[55]
Industrial Applicability
[56] As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a
re-
inforcing strip, for supporting a reinforced earth wall, which is directly
connected to an
earth wall construction block without an anchor or an anchor pin to facilitate
the
connection between the reinforcing strip and the block without additional sub-
material
costs, the front end of which is folded into halves and is directly inserted
into a re-
inforcing strip insertion groove formed in the block to prevent the sagging of
the re-
inforcing strip, and the rear end of which is folded into halves or erected
and serves as
a resistor or uses a separate resistor so that the rear end of the reinforcing
strip is easily
fixed to a reinforced earth wall by a temporary fixing nail, is used in a
reinforced earth
having a narrow area, or exerts more firm supporting force, and a method for
placing
the same, thereby improving the constructing efficiency and reducing material
costs
and labor costs, thus being capable of economically constructing a reinforced
earth
wall.
[57] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed
for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that
various modi-
fications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from
the scope
and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
