Author(s): Sigurd Melin
Linked Author(s):
Keywords: Ir-inflated tube; Flood protection; Flexibility
Abstract: Supported from the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRV), a mobile tube system has been developed to replace sandbags as a temporary flood protection measure. The patented system consists of air-inflated plastic tubes with blanket, drainage layer and friction element. A protective barrier can be easily formed by interconnecting a number of tubes, so as to protect properties behind from being flooded. The height of retained water head can be up to 1.2–1.5 m in slowly flowing water. The barrier has a wide area of application, in urban and rural areas, without much restrictions concerning the underlying ground. It can be installed with short notice and little labor. This paper presents the functions of the tube system, designed to have sufficient friction with underneath ground and sufficient uplift reduction capacity under the blanket, so that the system is kept in place under water pressure. Tests of friction with ground are made for more than ten materials, the purpose is to make sure that the friction element provides enough resistance under water pressure. Laboratory tests are made to study the system on several selected grounds. The paper ends up with some practical applications in Sweden, where the system was used to protect houses and properties in many flooding situations.
Year: 2002