Pile shoe node structure for preventing foundation from being scoured by adopting bionic aquatic plant structure

Abstract

The invention discloses a pile shoe node structure adopting bionic aquatic plants for preventing foundation scouring, which is characterized in that the pile shoe node structure comprises a pile shoe, a sleeve and a connector, and the sleeve is arranged on the outer side of the pile shoe; the connector is configured to be connected with the sleeve; the connector comprises a bionic aquatic plant and a screw rod; the bionic aquatic plant is fixed at one end of the screw rod; and the other end of the screw rod is connected with the sleeve. Compared with the prior art, the bionic aquatic plants capable of floating along with the ocean current are arranged at the pile shoe part, and formation and development of horseshoe vortexes are disrupted through floating of the bionic aquatic plants, so that the local scouring risk around the pile leg is effectively reduced, and the service life of the foundation is prolonged. The arrangement mode of the sleeves, the extension length of the connectors and the length, number and hardness of the bionic aquatic plants can be flexibly adjusted according to actual working conditions and hydrodynamic conditions of different sea areas, so that optimal control over the flow field disturbance effect is achieved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to pile shoe structures, and more particularly to a pile shoe node structure that uses a biomimetic aquatic plant structure to prevent foundation erosion. Background Technology

[0002] Jacket scour is a significant and common problem in marine engineering, typically occurring around the foundations of offshore platforms, bridge piers, and other marine structures. It is primarily caused by water currents (including tides and waves) scouring away seabed sediment, resulting in a localized drop in seabed elevation around the foundation and the formation of scour pits. This phenomenon significantly reduces structural stability and, in severe cases, can even lead to structural instability or overturning.

[0003] The primary cause of scouring is the effect of horseshoe vortices: when water flows against obstacles such as the legs of a jacket structure, it creates flow around the structure in front of and to the sides of the flow-facing side. Directly in front, the water flow is obstructed and the pressure increases, forcing some of the water downwards towards the seabed. Subsequently, it swirls upwards from the sides of the structure, forming a horseshoe-shaped vortex system.

[0004] As the scale of offshore wind power continues to expand, offshore substations and converter stations, as key hubs in the power transmission system, must possess long-term stability in their foundation structures. Currently, the foundations of these platforms widely adopt pile-shoe jacket structures. However, under the long-term hydrodynamic forces of tides and waves, the soil around the piles is prone to localized erosion, resulting in exposed piles and reduced bearing capacity, thus threatening the safety of the entire superstructure.

[0005] Currently, the following methods can be used to prevent seabed erosion:

[0006] Rockfill: Gravel or boulders of a certain grade are dumped around the foundation of a structure to reduce the energy of water flow and cover easily eroded soil layers using their weight and porosity. This method is simple to construct, but it has disadvantages such as easy loss of stone, frequent maintenance, significant impact on the seabed ecological environment, and difficulty in precision control.

[0007] Flexible protective mats: These are sand mats made of geotextile-wrapped stones or flexible mats made of interlocking concrete blocks. These mats are laid over a large area on the seabed and can effectively disperse the shear force of water flow and protect the underlying sediment. However, they have limitations such as complex construction technology, high overall cost and poor adaptability to irregular seabed topography.

[0008] Pile foundation shape optimization: Using non-circular cross-sections (such as wing-shaped or polygonal piles) to change the vortex shedding mode. Although this method can reduce scour from the design stage, it is often more expensive to manufacture.

[0009] Therefore, there is an urgent need for a new type of pile shoe node structure with advantages such as convenient construction, controllable construction quality, low cost, and good scour prevention effect. Summary of the Invention

[0010] The inventors of this application, through extensive research, have developed a pile shoe joint structure with advantages such as convenient construction, controllable construction quality, low cost, and good erosion resistance.

[0011] A pile shoe node structure for preventing foundation erosion using biomimetic aquatic plants, the pile shoe node structure comprising: a pile shoe, a sleeve, and a connector, wherein:

[0012] The sleeve is disposed on the outside of the pile shoe;

[0013] The connector is disposed on the sleeve and connected to the receiver; the connector includes a biomimetic aquatic plant and a screw.

[0014] The screw is mounted on the sleeve and is used to connect the sleeve to the released aquatic plants.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment, the sleeve is internally threaded.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment, the connection between the sleeve and the screw includes a bolted connection.

[0017] In a preferred embodiment, the connector is configured to allow for arbitrary adjustment of its extension length.

[0018] In a preferred embodiment, the biomimetic aquatic plant extends from the screw at an adjustable length of 300mm to 1500mm.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the arrangement and number of the sleeves are configured according to the sea conditions where the pile shoe is located.

[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the number of biomimetic aquatic plants disposed within a single connector is 10-120.

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the length of the screw is 400-800 mm, and the minimum connection length between the screw and the sleeve is 300 mm.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the biomimetic aquatic plant is made of materials including steel fiber, plastic, and nylon.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, a disc is disposed at the top of the screw, the disc being used to connect the screw to the biomimetic aquatic plant, which can expand the area where the biomimetic aquatic plant is disposed, thereby allowing more biomimetic aquatic plants to be disposed on a single screw.

[0024] The main advantages of this invention are:

[0025] (1) The present invention proposes to set up biomimetic aquatic plants that can drift with the ocean current at the pile shoe part. The drifting of the biomimetic aquatic plants can disrupt the formation and development of horseshoe vortices, thereby effectively reducing the risk of local scour around the pile leg and extending the service life of the foundation.

[0026] (2) The present invention is configured to flexibly adjust the arrangement of the sleeve, the extension length of the connector, and the length, quantity and hardness of the bionic aquatic plants according to the actual working conditions and the hydrodynamic conditions of different sea areas, so as to achieve optimal control of the flow field disturbance effect.

[0027] (3) The sleeve and connector of the present invention are connected by standardized bolts. This method not only simplifies the installation process and improves construction efficiency, but also facilitates the control of construction quality. At the same time, this connection form has good maintainability. When the bionic aquatic plant or connector is damaged due to long-term service or extreme working conditions, individual parts can be quickly disassembled and replaced, thereby reducing maintenance costs and shortening downtime.

[0028] The specification of this application contains numerous technical features distributed across various technical solutions. Listing all possible combinations of these technical features (i.e., technical solutions) would make the specification excessively lengthy. To avoid this problem, the various technical features disclosed in the above-described invention, the various technical features disclosed in the following embodiments and examples, and the various technical features disclosed in the accompanying drawings can be freely combined to form various new technical solutions (all of which should be considered as described in this specification), unless such a combination of technical features is technically infeasible. For example, one example discloses feature A+B+C, and another example discloses feature A+B+D+E. Features C and D are equivalent technical means that serve the same function, and technically only one needs to be used; they cannot be used simultaneously. Feature E can technically be combined with feature C. Therefore, the solution A+B+C+D should not be considered as described because it is technically infeasible, while the solution A+B+C+E should be considered as described. Attached Figure Description

[0029] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional schematic diagram of the pile shoe node of the present invention with only the sleeve installed;

[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the specific structure of the connector described in this invention;

[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the pile shoe node after the installation of the connector head according to the present invention.

[0032] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0033] 1—Pile shoe; 2—Sleeve; 3—Main leg of the guide frame; 4—Bionic aquatic plant; 5—Screw. Detailed Implementation

[0034] Through in-depth and extensive research, the inventors of this invention have developed a pile-shoe joint structure that uses a biomimetic aquatic plant structure to prevent foundation scour. Compared with existing technologies, this application proposes to install biomimetic aquatic plants in the pile-shoe area that can drift with ocean currents. The drifting of the biomimetic aquatic plants disrupts the formation and development of horseshoe vortices, thereby effectively reducing the risk of localized scour around the pile legs and extending the service life of the foundation. Furthermore, this application is configured to flexibly adjust the arrangement of the sleeves, the extension length of the connectors, and the length, quantity, and hardness of the biomimetic aquatic plants according to actual working conditions and hydrodynamic conditions in different sea areas, in order to achieve optimal control of the flow field disturbance effect.

[0035] the term

[0036] catheter stent

[0037] The jacket structure described in this invention is a support structure for offshore converter stations and offshore booster stations, consisting of hollow legs and longitudinal and transverse bars connecting the legs.

[0038] Pile boots

[0039] The pile shoe mentioned in this invention refers to the bottom support structure of the main leg of the jacket, which is used to connect with the steel pipe pile and transfer the upper load to the steel pipe pile;

[0040] flushing

[0041] The scouring described in this invention mainly refers to the phenomenon of soil displacement at the seabed contact point of marine engineering structures due to the impact of waves and ocean currents.

[0042] Example

[0043] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the embodiments of this application will be described in further detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] This application is implemented for example Figures 1-3 As shown, it discloses a pile shoe node structure that uses a biomimetic aquatic plant structure to prevent foundation erosion, specifically including: pile shoe 1, sleeve 2, and connector, wherein:

[0045] The pile shoe 1 is connected to the main leg 3 of the jacket, and the sleeves 2 are arranged and configured on the outside of the pile shoe 1 according to a certain rule. Optionally, in one embodiment, the number and specific arrangement of the sleeves 2 are determined according to the water depth, soil conditions, hydrodynamics and various sea conditions of the sea area where the pile shoe 1 is located.

[0046] The connector is connected to the sleeve 2; the connector includes a biomimetic aquatic plant 4 and a screw 5.

[0047] The biomimetic aquatic plant 4 is fixed to one end of the screw 5; the other end of the screw 5 is connected to the sleeve 2.

[0048] Optionally, in one embodiment, the sleeve 1 is provided with threads, and the bolt 5 and the sleeve 1 are connected by bolts.

[0049] Optionally, in one embodiment, the length of the screw extending into the sleeve is adjustable to control the overall extension length of the connector. Specifically, the extension length of the connector within the screw is adjustable from 400 to 800 mm, and the minimum connection length between the screw and the sleeve is 300 mm.

[0050] Optionally, in one embodiment, a disc is provided at the end of the screw 5 that is connected to the bionic aquatic plant 4. The radius of the disc is larger than the inner diameter of the bolt, thereby increasing the number of bionic aquatic plants 4 connected to a single screw 5. Specifically, the number of bionic aquatic plants 4 connected to a single bolt 5 is 10-120, and the material of the bionic aquatic plants includes steel fiber, plastic, and nylon.

[0051] It should be noted that in the invention documents of this patent, relational terms such as "first" and "second" are used only to distinguish one entity or operation from another, and do not necessarily require or imply any such actual relationship or order between these entities or operations. Furthermore, the terms "comprising," "including," or any other variations thereof are intended to cover non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements includes not only those elements but also other elements not expressly listed, or elements inherent to such a process, method, article, or apparatus. Without further limitations, an element defined by the phrase "comprising one" does not exclude the presence of other identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that includes that element. In the invention documents of this patent, if it refers to performing an action according to an element, it means performing the action at least according to that element, including two cases: performing the action only according to that element, and performing the action according to that element and other elements. Expressions such as "multiple," "repeatedly," and "various" include two, two times, two kinds, and more than two, more than two times, and more than two kinds.

[0052] All documents mentioned in this invention are considered to be incorporated integrally into the disclosure of this invention so that they can serve as the basis for modifications if necessary. Furthermore, it should be understood that the above are merely preferred embodiments of this specification and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of this specification. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of one or more embodiments of this specification should be included within the scope of protection of one or more embodiments of this specification.

Claims

1. A pile-shoe joint structure for preventing foundation erosion using biomimetic aquatic plants, characterized in that, The pile shoe node structure includes: a pile shoe, a sleeve, and a connector, wherein: The sleeve is disposed on the outside of the pile shoe; The connector is configured to connect with the sleeve; the connector includes a biomimetic aquatic plant and a screw. The biomimetic aquatic plant is fixed to one end of the screw; the other end of the screw is connected to the sleeve.

2. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The sleeve has internal threads.

3. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The connection between the sleeve and the screw includes a bolt connection.

4. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The connector is configured to allow for arbitrary adjustment of its extension length.

5. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The biomimetic aquatic plant extends from the screw at an adjustable length of 300mm to 1500mm.

6. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The arrangement of the sleeves is configured according to the sea conditions where the pile shoe is located.

7. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The number of biomimetic aquatic plants configured in a single connector is 10-120.

8. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The length of the screw is 400-800mm, and the minimum connection length between the screw and the sleeve is 300mm.

9. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The materials used in the biomimetic aquatic plants include steel fiber, plastic, and nylon.

10. The pile shoe node structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, A disc is disposed at the top of the screw, and the disc is used to connect the screw to the biomimetic aquatic plant.

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