Structural Response of Smart Walls Subjected to Multidirectional Loads
Published February 23, 2019 This content is archived.
Graduate Students: Jorge Cueto
Advisor: Andre Filiatrault
Co-Advisor: Amjad Aref
Project Completion Date: 06-16-2016
Full-scale tests of Smart Wall Structural Prototype
An innovative structural system was proposed as a measure to provide on-demand protection against floods. Fundamental concepts were evaluated and a structural prototype was built to conduct experimental and analytical studies. This project served as the base ground for ongoing research sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
Summary
Coastal and riverine cities are vulnerable to hazards including floods and storm surges. The problem worsens when the population growth is added to the equation. These cities, given their condition of centers for multiple economic activities, are likely to attract more people than other urban areas. Consequently, finding the space to accommodate both, the increasing population and the increasing water-related hazard, represents a challenge for urban designers, policy makers and engineering community in general. The system proposed and researched in this dissertation consists of a telescopic deployable wall that is hidden in the ground and extends only when needed to stop the flood-waters. Once the water recedes, the wall returns to its original position. The system has been named Smart Walls System (SWS) and it consists of boxes inside boxes that interlock automatically with each other when they reach the extended position. This interconnection provides the structural strength needed to withstand the forces imposed from the flood waters. The aim of the research project is to study the structural response of the SWS when subjected to multidirectional loads. An experimental program was conducted to subject the SWS specimen to static and impact lateral loads. Analytical and numerical models were developed to understand the transmission of forces from one segment to another and predict the failure mode of the SWS. As a result, the initial design of the SWS showed a good performance in regards its constructability, the extension and retraction capabilities, the strength against impact forces and against vertical and lateral forces. The latter one was achieved by reinforcing the connection between the boxes initially proposed.
Sponsors
This project was supported by Smart Walls Construction, LLC, the Mark Diamond Research Fund and the Fulbright-Colciencias Colombia program.