Constructions and Reinforcement Structures of Connected Sandbags

Abstract

A construction element for making retaining walls and erosion control structures comprises a plurality of sandbags connected together by means of a cord. The bags have flexible walls and holes through which the cord extends. The holes can be in various positions on the bags, and various spacings of the bags on the cord can be used. The construction elements can be used to form retaining walls, structures for protecting underwater shoreline areas from erosion, and other structures in the civil engineering field.

1 . A construction element comprising:
 (a) a plurality of bags having flexible walls and a sealable opening for insertion of fill material into said bag, each of said bags having at least one hole in said wall thereof; and   (b) a cord extending through said holes attaching said bags together.   
   
   
       2 . A construction element according to  claim 1  wherein each of said bags has two said holes in said wall thereof and said cord extends through both of said holes. 
   
   
       3 . A construction element according to  claim 1  wherein said bag wall has a side portion and opposed end portions and said hole is at or proximate to one of said end portions. 
   
   
       4 . A construction element according to  claim 1  wherein said bag has a side portion and opposed end portions and said sealable opening is in one of said end portions. 
   
   
       5 . A construction element according to  claim 4  wherein said cord extends through said sealable opening and wherein said at least one hole is in or proximate to said end portion opposite to said sealable opening. 
   
   
       6 . A construction element according to  claim 1  wherein said cord comprises a plastics material. 
   
   
       7 . A construction element according to  claim 6  wherein said plastics comprises nylon. 
   
   
       8 . A construction element according to  claim 1  wherein said bags are sandbags containing said fill material. 
   
   
       9 . A wall structure comprising a plurality of construction elements according to  claim 8 . 
   
   
       10 . A wall structure according to  claim 9  comprising a plurality of courses, each of said courses comprising one or more of said construction elements. 
   
   
       11 . A wall structure according to  claim 10  wherein said cords of said construction elements extend from ends of said courses and are secured to a slope supported by said wall structure. 
   
   
       12 . A wall structure according to  claim 10  further comprising rods extending through said sandbags in a plurality of said courses. 
   
   
       13 . A wall structure according to  claim 10  wherein said sandbags in said courses are attached together by means of interconnecting members which attach vertically and horizontally-adjacent sandbags together. 
   
   
       14 . A structure for protecting underwater shoreline areas from erosion, comprising a plurality of construction elements according to  claim 8  positioned on said underwater shoreline area. 
   
   
       15 . A structure according to  claim 14  wherein said sandbags comprise sandbags of different sizes. 
   
   
       16 . An structure according to  claim 14  wherein said construction elements are anchored to said underwater shoreline area by means of said cords. 
   
   
       17 . A retaining wall structure comprising:
 (a) a plurality of courses of sandbags forming a wall face supporting a mass of fill material, each of said courses comprising a plurality of sandbags;   (b) interconnecting members positioned between adjacent courses to connect sandbags of each course to said sandbags of each adjacent course; and   (c) a construction element according to  claim 8  wherein said sandbags of said construction element extend from said wall face into said fill material, said extending sandbags being attached by means of an interconnecting member to one or more of said sandbags forming said wall face, said cord of said construction element being anchored to said fill material or to a slope supported by said wall face.