Sheet piling with aversive additive

Abstract

A sheet piling member comprising including a base construction material forming a rigid shape and an aversive agent incorporated with respect to the base construction material. The aversive agent deters contact with the base construction material by living rodents.

1 . An animal-aversive sheet piling comprising:
 an elongate member formed of a substantially rigid base construction material, the elongate member comprising first and second sides defining a width therebetween, and first and second ends defining a length therebetween; and   wherein the elongate member further comprises an animal-aversive agent effective to deter damage to the sheet piling by living animals.   
     
     
         2 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , wherein the animal-aversive agent is blended into the base construction material. 
     
     
         3 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , wherein the animal-aversive agent is applied onto the base construction material. 
     
     
         4 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , wherein the animal-aversive agent comprises at least one of the group comprising denatonium benzoate and capsaicin. 
     
     
         5 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , wherein the animal-aversive agent is concentrated at predetermined locations with respect to the base construction material. 
     
     
         6 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , wherein the animal-aversive agent is incorporated evenly with respect to the base construction material. 
     
     
         7 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , further comprising a tactile element. 
     
     
         8 . The sheet piling of  claim 7 , wherein the tactile element comprises glass. 
     
     
         9 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , further comprising a distinctive colorant that deters living animals. 
     
     
         10 . The sheet piling of  claim 1 , wherein the base construction material comprises a polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The sheet piling member of  claim 10 , wherein the polymer comprises at least one of the group comprising polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). 
     
     
         12 . A method of preventing rodents or other animals from damaging a sheet piling structure, the method comprising:
 incorporating an aversive material with respect to a base construction material of a sheet piling member; and   installing the sheet piling member into a structure.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein incorporating the aversive material comprises blending the aversive material with the base construction material, and extruding the blend to form an elongate sheet piling element. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein incorporating the aversive material comprises applying the aversive material onto the base construction material, and dried and hardened. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising incorporating a tactile element with respect to the base construction material. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the structure comprises a levee. 
     
     
         17 . A sheet piling member comprising:
 a base construction material forming a rigid shape; and   a tactile element incorporated with respect to the base construction material, effective to deter contact with the base construction material by living rodents.   
     
     
         18 . The sheet piling member of  claim 17 , further comprising an aversive agent incorporated with respect to the base construction material. 
     
     
         19 . The sheet piling member of  claim 18 , wherein the aversive agent is blended into the base construction material. 
     
     
         20 . The sheet piling member of  claim 18 , wherein the aversive agent is applied onto the base construction material.