WALL STRUCTURE

Abstract: The invention provides a wall structure (1) comprising a foundation base (2) for placing in the ground and having rigidly connected thereto a wall panel (3) standing substantially vertically, which foundation base (2) has a width in transverse direction of the principal plane of the wall panel (3) which is at least twice as large as the thickness of the wall panel (3) in the zone adjoining the foundation base (2). Such a wall structure (1) has an excellent stability combined with a relatively light weight. The foundation base (2) can for instance be placed on a bearing layer in the ground, for instance on a sand layer. A specific embodiment is that in which at least the wall panel (3) comprises mutually coupled metal gauze meshes (4) in addition to a cured mass (7) such as concrete connected thereto.

Description: WALL STRUCTURE The invention provides a wall structure comprising a foundation base for placing in the ground and having rigidly connected thereto a wall panel standing substantially vertically, which foundation base has a width in transverse direction of the principal plane of the wall panel which is at least twice as large as the thickness of the wall panel in the zone adjoining the foundation base. Such a wall structure has an excellent stability combined with a relatively light weight. The foundation base can for instance be placed on a bearing layer in the ground, for instance on a sand layer. A specific embodiment is that in which at least the wall panel comprises mutually coupled metal gauze meshes in addition to a cured mass such as concrete connected thereto. A light structure is obtained with an embodiment in which the wall structure comprises a cavity of substantial dimensions. The embodiment can also be used advantageously to manufacture a heavy but nevertheless inexpensive wall structure. For this purpose this wall structure can have the special feature that the cavity is at least partly filled, for instance with foam material, sand, plastic granules, waste or rubble. In order to improve the stability of the wall structure it can be provided with tie anchors connected to the foundation base and placeable in the ground located thereunder. These tie anchors can be embodied for instance as helical, mechanically strong worms placed in the ground and as plates placed in the ground which are connected by means of at least one tensively strong element to the foundation base, or elements in general which are arranged in the ground and connected to the foundation base such that they effectively prevent any possible movements of the foundation base. In order to prevent washing away of materials forming part of the wall structure the latter can be provided with a sealing layer, consisting for instance of a plastic foil, a plaster layer or the like. The plaster layer can be embodied for instance as shotcrete. In order to prevent dirtying the wall structure can be provided with an outer layer with selected properties, for instance dirt-repellent capacity, hydrophobic properties, colour. Use can for instance be made of the above mentioned shotcrete to which additives are added. Such additives can give the outer layer the desired physical properties. Optional colouring can be performed at selected positions. Since the forces acting on the wall panel decrease as the height increases, a wall structure can, in order to save weight and cost, have the special feature that the wall panel has a thickness becoming smaller toward the top. It is noted here that this reduction in thickness does not have to extend in a regular manner over the whole height. An embodiment which is particularly suitable for use of the wall structure as sound-damping construction, for instance noiεe-protection walls along motorways, train routes and the like, can have the special feature that the wall panel comprises a substantially vertically standing lower part and at least an inclining upper part. If desired, the lower part can also have a certain inclination. This can have the same direction as that of the upper part but also an inclination in opposite direction. The upper part can even assume the character of a lean-to. In this respect the word "inclination" must also be understood as a horizontal direction. A preferred embodiment has the special feature that the lower structure is monolithic. A modular structure is obtained with an embodiment in which the wall structure comprises coupling means for coupling to another wall structure. With such a construction a wall of any desired length can be made. By making use of suitable coupling edges mutually coupled wall structures can join together at a desired angle. The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexed drawings. Herein: figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a wall structure according to the invention in a broken away perspective view; figure 2 is a view corresponding with figure l of a variant; and figure 3 shows a wall of modular construction consisting of wall structures according to the invention. Figure 1 shows two coupled wall structures 1 according to the invention. Each wall structure comprises a foundation base 2 placed in the ground and a standing wall panel 3 connected thereto. The foundation base 2 has a width in transverse direction of the wall panel 3 which in this embodiment is roughly three times larger than the thickness of wall panel 3 in the zone adjoining foundation base 2. The wall structure takes a monolithic form. It comprises mutually coupled steel gauze meshes designated 4 which are joined with a cured concrete mass 5. A plastic foil bag 6 is included inside the wall structure 1. This effectively prevents undesired washing away of material present in the concrete mass 5. Furthermore, a shotcrete plaster layer 7 is applied. The wall panel 3 has a cavity 9. Figure 2 shows a wall structure 8. This comprises a base 10 and a wall panel 11 formed integrally therewith. Wall structure 8 also comprises metal gauze meshes, which are all designated 12, and foil bags 13, 14. The space between foil bags 13, 14 is filled with a concrete mass 15 while an internal cavity 16 is filled with filler material 17 such as waste. At variance with the embodiment of figure 1, the stability of wall structure 8 is improved by making use of tie anchors 18, 19 consisting of tensively strong elements 20, 21 respectively connected to the base and anchor plates 22, 23 respectively anchored relatively deeply in the ground. Wall panel 11 comprises a lower part 24 standing substantially vertically straight and an upper part 25 connecting thereto at an angle of about 5*. Figure 3 shows the use of the wall structures 8 as noise-protection wall. The upper parts 25 incline forward in the direction of the noise-producing traffic 26, whereby an effective reduction is realized in the sound emitted to the residential zone 27. Some wall structures 8 are provided with windows 28. Figure 2 shows that the noise-protection wall shown in figure 3 is provided with a sound-absorbing covering 29. This is coupled to the wall structure 8 by means of fixing anchors 30. *****

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Wall structure comprising a foundation base for placing in the ground and having rigidly connected thereto a wall panel standing substantially vertically, which foundation base has a width in transverse direction of the principal plane of the wall panel which is at least twice as large as the thickness of the wall panel in the zone adjoining the foundation base. 2. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the wall panel comprises mutually coupled metal gauze meshes in addition to a cured mass such as concrete connected thereto. 3. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall structure comprises a cavity of substantial dimensions. 4. Wall structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cavity is at least partly filled, for instance with foam material, sand, plastic granules, waste or rubble. 5. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising tie anchors connected to the foundation base and placeable in the ground located thereunder. 6. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising a sealing layer, consisting for instance of a plastic foil, a plaster layer or the like. 7. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, comprising an outer layer with selected properties, for instance dirt-repellent capacity, hydrophobic properties, colour. 8. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall panel has a thickness becoming smaller toward the top. 9. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall panel comprises a substantially vertically standing lower part and at least an inclining upper part. 10. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower structure is monolithic. > 11. Wall structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wall structure comprises coupling means for coupling to another wall structure.

Inventors: BERTELS AUGUSTINUS WILHELMUS M, BERTELS, AUGUSTINUS, WILHELMUS, MARIA
Applicants: BERTELS AUGUSTINUS WILHELMUS M, BERTELS, AUGUSTINUS, WILHELMUS, MARIA
Application year: 1996
Main classification: E02D29
IPC codes: E01F8, E01F15, E02D29