SBIR Phase I: Telescopic Structural Flood Walls

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目的目的是开发，测试和验证一个可伸缩的伸缩结构墙在防洪应用。 这项技术将使洪水易发地区的基础设施更具弹性。 气候变化正在给沿海城市和邻近大片水域的地方社区带来问题。人口中心往往位于这些水体附近，寻找空间来容纳不断增长的人口以及具有灾害弹性的基础设施，对城市官员和工程界来说是一个挑战。这项技术的潜在市场规模估计为26亿美元。 所提出的概念，验证后，将提供一个预制混凝土行业的范式转变。该项目的智力价值在于一个独特的概念，即由纤维增强混凝土制成的结构箱可以伸缩地展开，以承受来自外部来源的力，然后返回到缩回位置。拟议研究的目标围绕机制的详细设计，确定几何配置和材料组合，以实现高强度重量比，以及对物理工作原型进行实验室实验和现场测试。实现这些目标的计划从开发数值模拟和分析框架开始。结果将通过实验室测试进行验证，其中将施加横向和垂直载荷以及冲击载荷。 还将对样本进行现场测试，以确定土壤类型对性能的影响。 这些现场试验也将用于模拟真实的静止洪水条件。 第一阶段的预期技术成果是一个伸缩式结构防洪墙的工作原型，具有伸缩能力，并具有承受洪水事件的力量的结构能力，最大限度地减少或没有损坏。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project is aimed to develop, test and validate a retractable telescopic structural wall for applications in flood protection. This technology will enable more resilient infrastructure in flood-prone areas. Climate change is creating a problem for coastal cities and local communities in proximity to large bodies of water. Population centers tend to be located near such bodies of water, and finding the space to accommodate increasing populations, as well as hazard-resilient infrastructure, represents a challenge for city officials and the engineering community in general. The addressable market size for this technology is estimated at $2.6 billion. The proposed concept, when validated, will provide a paradigm shift for the prefabricated concrete industry. It will also develop and validate new methods for telescopic interconnection of structural elements.The intellectual merit of this project lies in a unique concept where structural boxes, made out of fiber reinforced concrete, can be deployed telescopically to withstand forces imposed from external sources, and then return to a retracted position. The goals of the proposed research surround the detailed design of the mechanisms, determination of a geometric configuration and material mix to achieve a high strength-to-weight ratio, and the execution of laboratory experimentation and field tests on physical working prototypes. The plan to accomplish these goals starts with the development of numerical simulations and an analytical framework. Results will be validated via laboratory tests where lateral and vertical loads, as well as impact loads, will be applied. Field tests of the specimens will also be conducted to determine the effects of soil type on performance. These field tests will serve as well to simulate realistic still flood water conditions. The anticipated technical result of Phase I is a working prototype of the telescopic structural flood wall with extension and retraction capabilities, and with the structural capability to withstand the forces from flood events with minimal to no damage.