US20250382752A1

US20250382752A1 - Plate System For Sand Boil Mitigation

Info

Publication number: US20250382752A1
Application number: US19/237,565
Authority: US
Inventors: Jon C. Fiutak; Rhoen Fiutak; Sean P. Joyce; James F. Weber, JR.
Original assignee: Anthony Hardwood Composites Inc
Current assignee: Anthony Hardwood Composites Inc
Priority date: 2024-06-13
Filing date: 2025-06-13
Publication date: 2025-12-18

Abstract

A sand boil mitigation pad includes a first layer including a plurality of laminated support mats nested and attached together, and defining a deck. A second layer includes a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as runners, wherein the runners are positioned perpendicular to the laminated support mats of the deck and are attached thereto, and wherein adjacent ones of the runners are spaced apart. A third layer includes a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as bars, wherein the bars are positioned perpendicular to the runners and are attached to one or both of the runners and the deck.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to a laminated support mat. In particular, this invention relates to embodiments of an improved plate system that comprises a plurality of reinforced laminated support mats and is configured for placement over a sand boil.
The construction industry uses solid sawn wood and wood panel members in a variety of forms to aid in the erection of buildings, roads, and bridges. For example, temporary road panels and crane mats are often constructed using solid-sawn hardwood timbers or some species of softwoods. These panels are used to form a temporary lightweight roadway or foundation to facilitate vehicular and equipment travel as may be required in construction operations. Other industry users of such mats include users in the field of pipeline, utility, transportation, oil, and infrastructure.
As shown in FIG. 1 , a conventional road panel, shown generally at 10, is formed by using a plurality of solid sawn timber elements 12. Typically, four pieces of solid sawn timber 12 are used, each having a cross-sectional dimension ranging from about 8 inches by 8 inches to about 12 inches by 12 inches, with a length of 16 feet. The four pieces of timber 12 are usually bolted together using bolts 14 to form the temporary road panel 10 having an assembled dimension of 4 feet by 1 foot by 16 feet. Several panels may be placed side by side over existing ground to form a temporary roadway or to support cranes on a construction site. Ground conditions under the panels vary greatly and may include, for example, sand, clay, wetlands, and possibly a considerable amount of water. Another conventional wood mat uses smaller dimensional lumber and uses nails, carriage bolts, or steel rods as a fastening system. All of these systems have mechanical fastening systems to transfer stresses between components. Additionally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,932,198 discloses a compound timber-metal stressed deck with metal plates inserted between the timbers.
Some support mats may be reinforced with steel or other metal beams. U.S. Pat. No. 8,906,480 discloses one such reinforced laminated support mat.
A sand boil, also known as a levee boil, is a destructive phenomenon that can occur when water builds up against an earthen levee for a long time, causing groundwater to push upward on the land inside the levee. This pressure can force groundwater through the levee's underside to the surface, sometimes appearing to bubble or boil. Sand boils can happen during high water or when seepage occurs and can develop anytime the river level is high.
When flood waters remain high for a long time though, under-seepage can increase in volume and velocity and begin the destructive process of moving sand and other alluvial material from the levee foundation, through the ground, to the surface, forming the sand boils. Left unchecked, the process of forming sand boils may eventually lead to levee failure.
To mitigate the negative effect of sand boils during a flood, engineers will typically build a ring of sandbags around the sand boil. The sandbag ring is built higher and higher, until the weight of the water inside the ring slows the water flow from the boil to where there is just clear water coming from the sand boil. The weight of the water inside the ring of sandbags may also stop the water flow from the boil. The persons building the ring of sandbags, however, are required to work in an area that will be quickly flooded should the levee fail. FIGS. 3A through 3F illustrate the formation of a sand boil and the subsequent resulting levee failure. For example, FIG. 3A illustrates a levee 50 adjacent a body of water, such as a river 52 and shows seepage 54 from the river 52 that forms a sand boil SB, and the initial formation of a pipe 56. FIG. 3B and show continued seepage 54, causing backward erosion and the lengthening of the pipe 56. FIG. 3D shows widening of the pipe 56, which leads to levee failure, as shown in FIG. 3E, and subsequent levee breach, as shown in FIG. 3F.
Thus, it would be desirable to provide an improved plate system configured for placement over a sand boil, and further configured to slow or prevent the flow of sand and other alluvial material from the levee foundation, and therefore to prevent levee failure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an improved sand boil mitigation pad that has a first layer including a plurality of laminated support mats nested and attached together, and defining a deck. The sand boil mitigation pad may include a second layer that includes a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as runners, wherein the runners are positioned perpendicular to the laminated support mats of the deck and are attached thereto, and wherein adjacent ones of the runners are spaced apart. The sand boil mitigation pad may further include a third layer that includes a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as bars, wherein the bars are positioned perpendicular to the runners, and wherein at least two of the bars are attached to one or both of the runners and the deck.
Various aspects of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment, when read in view of the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a known panel formed of solid sawn timber.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a known reinforced laminated support mat.

FIG. 3A is an illustration of a first step in the formation of a sand boil and the subsequent resulting levee failure.

FIG. 3B is an illustration of a second step in the formation of a sand boil and the subsequent resulting levee failure.

FIG. 3C is an illustration of a third step in the formation of a sand boil and the subsequent resulting levee failure.

FIG. 3D is an illustration of a fourth step in the formation of a sand boil and the subsequent resulting levee failure.

FIG. 3E is an illustration of a fifth step in the formation of a sand boil and the subsequent resulting levee failure.

FIG. 3F is an illustration of a sixth step in the formation of a sand boil and the subsequent resulting levee failure.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a first embodiment of a sand boil mitigation pad in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 4A is a side elevational view of the sand boil mitigation pad illustrated in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the sand boil mitigation pad illustrated in FIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of a sand boil mitigation pad in accordance with this invention and showing a means of connecting reinforced laminated support mats in adjacent layers of the sand boil mitigation pad.

FIG. 6A is an enlarged view of the sand boil mitigation pad shown in the circle A of FIG. 6 .

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of a sand boil mitigation pad in accordance with this invention and showing a means of connecting adjacent reinforced laminated support mats in one layer of the sand boil mitigation pad.

FIG. 7A is an enlarged view of the sand boil mitigation pad shown in the circle A of FIG. 7 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention will now be described with occasional reference to the specific embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.
FIG. 2 illustrates a known reinforced laminated support mat 20. The illustrated reinforced laminated support mat 20 is comprised of a plurality of laminated beams or billets 22, has a substantially planar wide or load-bearing face 24, two opposing, longitudinally extending, edges 25, a length L of about 14 ft, and a width W. Non-limiting examples of suitable mat widths W include widths of 4 feet and 8 feet. It will be understood however, that the reinforced laminated support mat 20 may have any other desired length.
Each of the illustrated billets 22 comprises a plurality of wood members or individual wood laminations. Apertures 26 may be formed through the reinforced laminated support mat 20 for receiving fastening means, such as substantially rigid fasteners or threaded steel rods 28 attached with nuts 30.
In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality of resilient spacers 32 are shown disposed within the space between adjacent billets 22. It will be understood that any number of resilient spacers 32 may be disposed within the space between adjacent billets 22. The resilient spacers 32 may be formed from any desired material having the properties of good mechanical strength, high ozone and weather resistance, good aging resistance, low flammability, good resistance toward chemicals, moderate oil and fuel resistance, and adhesion to many substrates, such as for example rubber and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).
As used in the description of the invention, the term “mat” includes mats as well as panels. Examples of such a support mat are described in co-assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,137,236 and 7,818,929, herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
The reinforced laminated support mat 20 includes a plurality of elongated, protective edge members 34 and 36. Each illustrated protective edge member 34 is formed of steel having a corrugated shape and attached to each of the longitudinally extending edges 25. The corrugated protective edge members 34 include apertures through which the steel rods 28 extend for attachment to the reinforced laminated support mat 20. The corrugated protective edge members 36 are similar to the corrugated protective edge members 34, however distal ends of the corrugated protective edge members 36 positioned at the distal ends of the reinforced laminated support mat 20 include a corrugated section 38 having a width about ½ the width of the other corrugated sections in the corrugated protective edge members 36, and in the corrugated protective edge members 34. The corrugated section 38 includes an attachment flange 40 having an aperture formed therethrough. A lag bolt 42 extends through the aperture in the attachment flange 40 and into the billet 22 of the reinforced laminated support mat 20.
When two or more of the reinforced laminated support mats 20 are used together in the field, they are typically positioned side by side such that the corrugations of the corrugated protective edge members 34 and 36 are nested.
Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 4A, an improved plate system is configured as a multi-layered pad, shown generally at 100. The pad 100 comprises a plurality of the reinforced laminated support mats 20 and is further configured for placement over a sand boil SB, such as a sand boil SB having a diameter D of about 6 ft.
The illustrated plate system or pad 100 includes a first layer or deck 110, and a second layer 112 that comprises a plurality of the laminated support mats 20 configured as runners 114. The deck 110 includes a plurality of the laminated support mats 20 nested together as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , and attached together, by attachment means, such as with hooks and chains, as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, 7, and 7A. The runners 114 are positioned perpendicular to the laminated support mats 20 of the deck 110, are attached thereto, and adjacent ones of the runners 114 are spaced apart.
Significantly, the interconnectivity of the mats 20 in the deck 110 is key to the assembly of a functional pad 100. It is this structural connection, such as shown in FIGS. 6, 6A, 7, and 7A, that prevent the mats 20 from separating, and forces the connected mats 20 to perform as a contiguous plate system or pad 100. For example, a collection of conventional timber mats laid similarly would separate under the flow of water from a sand boil and alter the physics of the resistance equation.
As shown in FIGS. 6 and 6A, a portion of a sand boil mitigation pad 100 is shown having a means of connecting the reinforced laminated support mats 20 in adjacent layers of the sand boil mitigation pad 100, such as connecting the runners 114 to the deck 110, and connecting the bars 118 to the runners 114. In the illustrated embodiment, the means of connecting the reinforced laminated support mats 20 is configured as a chain and hook assembly 130 having a chain 132 and chain hooks 134 at each end thereof. As shown, the links of the chain 132 pass downwardly through an opening between the edge of the mat 20 and the corrugated steel protective edge members 34 of the upper layer of mats 20, such as, for example, the runners 114, and then up and through the bottom of an opening between the edge of the mat 20 and the corrugated steel protective edge members 34 of the lower layer of mats 20, such as, for example, the deck 110. A throat of each hook 134 is positioned, or hung on an edge of the corrugated steel protective edge members 34 of the mats 20 in the respective upper and lower layers of the sand boil mitigation pad 100, such that the hooks 134 will not become dislodged due to the force of gravity.
Similarly, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 7A, a portion of a sand boil mitigation pad 100 is shown having a means of connecting adjacent reinforced laminated support mats 20 in one layer of the sand boil mitigation pad 100. In the illustrated embodiment, the means of connecting the adjacent reinforced laminated support mats 20 is the chain and hook assembly 130. As shown, the links of the chain 132 pass downwardly through an opening between the edge of the mat 20 and the corrugated steel protective edge members 34 of one of the two adjacent mats 20, and then up and through the bottom of an opening between the edge of the mat 20 and the corrugated steel protective edge members 34 of a second of the two adjacent mats 20. The throat of each hook 134 is positioned, or hung on an edge of the corrugated steel protective edge members 34 in each of the respective adjacent mats 20 of the sand boil mitigation pad 100, such that the hooks 134 will not become dislodged due to the force of gravity.
A third layer 116 that comprises a plurality of the laminated support mats 20 configured as bars 118. The bars 118 are positioned perpendicular to the runners 114. In the illustrated embodiment, two of the bars 118 are positioned at outboard edges of the pad 100 and are attached to the runners 114 and may be attached to the deck 110. It will be understood however, that the bars 118 may be positioned at any desired location on the runners 114, and that the pad 100 may include more than two of the bars 118. As shown in FIG. 4 , the pad 100 is about 40 ft×40 ft and is configured for placement over a sand boil SB having a diameter of about 6 ft.
Although illustrated as having three layers comprising a deck 110, runners 114, and bars 118, it will be understood that the pad 100 may have other configurations. Other configurations of the pad 100 include, but are not limited to, a pad 100 having just a single deck 110, a pad 100 having two decks 110 and one layer of runners 114, and a pad 110 having three decks 110, one layer of runners 114, and one layer of bars 118. The specific configuration of the pad 100 will be determined based on the physics of the sand boil SB, including, but not limited to, its water pressure and diameter. [other configurations? FIG. 6 ?]
Advantageously, the pad 100 may be formed having any desired dimensions, including, but not limited to 100 ft×200 ft. In the event of flooding in a river adjacent to a levee, an area of potential seepage may be identified. However, the area of potential seepage may be quite large, and a large pad 100, such as a pad having dimensions of about 100 ft×200 ft may be deployed.
Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 4 a, and to FIG. 5 , unlike the known panel 10, the pad 100 includes openings or perforations, including longitudinal openings 120 between adjacent billets 22, i.e., the space created by the resilient spacers 32, and longitudinal openings 122 between adjacent mats 20.
Thus, the pad 100 may be placed in a location where sand boils SB may form, or the pad 100 may be placed over a sand boil SB that has already formed. When placed over a sand boil SB, the pad 100 is configured to mitigate the negative effect of the sand boil SB by reducing the discharge velocity of seepage water flowing to the sand boil SB such that most or all the alluvial material in the flowing water precipitates out of the seepage water flow before it reaches the sand boil SB throat. Advantageously, the pad 100 includes defined void space, such as for example, the longitudinal openings 120 between adjacent billets 22 and the longitudinal openings 122 between adjacent mats 20. Counter pressure by the pad 100 to the head of the sand boil SB is sufficient to reduce the discharge velocity of the seepage water flow without completely restricting the overall flow of the seepage water.
The principle and mode of operation of this invention have been explained and illustrated in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that this invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically explained and illustrated without departing from its spirit or scope.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A sand boil mitigation pad comprising:

a first layer including a plurality of laminated support mats nested and attached together, and defining a deck.

2. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 1, wherein each laminated support mat includes a plurality of laminated billets attached together and defining a planar load-bearing face and two opposing longitudinally extending edges;

wherein a corrugated protective edge member is attached to each of the longitudinally extending edges of the laminated support mat.

3. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 2, wherein adjacent laminated support mat of the deck are connected by a chain and hook assembly.

4. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 3, wherein links of the chain pass downwardly through an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of one of two adjacent laminated support mats, and then up and through a bottom of an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a second of the two adjacent laminated support mats; and

wherein a throat of each hook hung on an edge of the corrugated protective edge members in each of the adjacent laminated support mats, such that the hooks will not become dislodged due to the force of gravity.

5. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 4, wherein the first layer is formed from a plurality of the decks.

6. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 5, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of the decks are connected by a chain and hook assembly;

wherein links of the chain pass downwardly through an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a first one of two adjacent decks, and then up and through a bottom of an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a second one of the two adjacent decks; and

wherein a throat of each hook hung on an edge of the corrugated protective edge members in each of the runner and the deck, such that the hooks will not become dislodged due to the force of gravity.

7. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 4, further including a second layer that includes a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as runners, wherein the runners are positioned perpendicular to the laminated support mats of the deck and are attached thereto, and wherein adjacent ones of the runners are spaced apart.

8. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 7, wherein the deck and the runners are connected by a chain and hook assembly.

9. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 8, wherein links of the chain pass downwardly through an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a runner, and then up and through a bottom of an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of the deck; and

10. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 9, further including a third layer that includes a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as bars, wherein the bars are positioned perpendicular to the runners and are attached to at least one of the runners and the deck.

11. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 10, wherein the bars and the at least one of the runners and the deck are connected by a chain and hook assembly.

12. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 11, wherein links of the chain pass downwardly through an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a bar, and then up and through a bottom of an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of the at least one of the runners and the deck; and

wherein a throat of each hook hung on an edge of the corrugated protective edge members in each of the runner and the at least one of the runners and the deck, such that the hooks will not become dislodged due to the force of gravity.

13. A sand boil mitigation pad comprising:

a first layer including a plurality of laminated support mats nested and attached together, and defining a deck;

a second layer including a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as runners, wherein the runners are positioned perpendicular to the laminated support mats of the deck and are attached thereto, and wherein adjacent ones of the runners are spaced apart; and

a third layer including a plurality of the laminated support mats configured as bars, wherein the bars are positioned perpendicular to the runners and are attached to at least one of the runners and the deck.

14. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 13, wherein each laminated support mat includes a plurality of laminated billets attached together and defining a planar load-bearing face and two opposing longitudinally extending edges;

15. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 14, wherein adjacent laminated support mat of the deck are connected by a chain and hook assembly.

16. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 15, wherein links of the chain pass downwardly through an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of one of two adjacent laminated support mats, and then up and through a bottom of an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a second of the two adjacent laminated support mats; and

17. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 16, wherein the deck and the runners are connected by a chain and hook assembly.

18. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 17, wherein links of the chain pass downwardly through an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a runner, and then up and through a bottom of an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of the deck; and

19. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 18, wherein the bars and the at least one of the runners and the deck are connected by a chain and hook assembly.

20. The sand boil mitigation pad according to claim 19, wherein links of the chain pass downwardly through an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of a bar, and then up and through a bottom of an opening between the longitudinally extending edge of the laminated support mat and the corrugated protective edge member of the at least one of the runners and the deck; and