Protection system for harbour docks

Abstract

System for protecting harbour docks from hydrodynamic flows generated by thrusters of naval vessels docking and / or undocking from the docks. The docks have at least one structural element facing the direction of the docking and / or undocking naval vessels, which structural element is partially immersed in water. The system comprises a protection device (2) positionable at said structural element (10), superimposed on said structural element (10) and interposed between said structural element (10) and said naval vessels, the protection device (2) comprising at least one support frame (21 ) fixed directly to said structural element and at least one plate (20) fixed to said support frame (21 ). In a condition fixed to the structural element, the plate (20) has an end edge at least in contact with and / or penetrating said seabed, said protection device (2) being configured in such a way that said end edge, in a condition fixed to the protection device (2), is positioned below the foot of said structural element.

Description

[0001] Protection system for harbour docks

[0002] The present invention relates to a system for protecting harbour docks from hydrodynamic flows generated by thrusters of naval vessels docking and / or undocking from the docks.

[0003] The harbour dock is generally that part of the harbour facing the water that makes it possible to safely bring naval vessels to shore and secure them so as to allow the embarkation and disembarkation of people or the loading and unloading of goods, away from the motion of the waves.

[0004] The harbour docks known to the state of the art are generally made up of continuous or open structures formed with different types of materials. Examples of docks include reinforced concrete cellular boxes, stone blocks, piles, pilings, diaphragms, prefabricated reinforced concrete walls and others, hereinafter referred to as structural elements, partially immersed in water, so as to present at least one part facing the direction of the docked and / or detached naval vessels.

[0005] The harbour docks, in general, were built following the economic development of the post-war period; today we are faced with works built with the knowledge of that time and above all designed for small and medium ships. The maritime gigantism and the manoeuvring propellers, facilitating the manoeuvres of these ships in increasingly narrow spaces, cause erosive effects of the foundation on which the block structures rest or modify the constraint conditions in the ground of the structures with deep foundations. In particular, the hydrodynamic flow generated by the manoeuvring and propulsion propellers, in addition to causing erosive phenomena, produces abrasive and corrosive effects on the structural elements of the dock due to the projection of sediments deposited on the seabed.

[0006] It is therefore evident that the structural elements of the harbour docks, partially immersed in water, represent the critical point of the dock, as they are subject to erosion phenomena in the part that guarantees structural stability, to mechanical erosion phenomena of the structure, as well as to electrochemical corrosion, induced by the presence of chlorides and / or stray currents, of the steel reinforcing structures.

[0007] In fact, ships docking or undocking from the dock through the activation of naval propellers, such as bow / stern thrusters or similar manoeuvring propellers, create particularly turbulent hydrodynamic flows near the dock and, in particular, the wall.

[0008] These flows impact against the support and constraint surfaces of the structures, compromising their stability, impact against the walls of the dock and deteriorate the material with which the dock itself is made, until large amounts of material are eroded, making the dock unusable and unsafe. The effect of prolonged abrasion over time can trigger electrochemical corrosion phenomena of metal components. For example, the phenomenon of localized corrosion, better known as "pitting", can reach rather significant corrosion rate values (1-1.5 mm / year), causing unacceptable reductions in the section of steel reinforcements, until they are progressively truncated, and the dock itself may even collapse. Overall, mechanical and electrochemical phenomena are therefore the cause of pitting and structural impairment of the dock products.

[0009] The current state-of-the-art solutions to protect the new docks include the insertion of stone blocks and the reinforcement of the walls of the docks, using materials that are more resistant to wear, such as appropriately treated and protected reinforced concrete.

[0010] For existing docks, erosion and structural degradation progress slowly and progressively, until restoration interventions are necessary. These interventions consist of the addition of material to rebuild the support or constraint surface and the rehabilitation of the damaged parts of the structural elements.

[0011] Given the frequency of docking and / or undocking of naval vessels, these restoration interventions are increasingly taking place, requiring considerable costs.

[0012] The costs related to the restoration interventions are mainly indirect, that is, they concern the dock being put out of use.

[0013] During the restoration work, in fact, the dock cannot perform its functions and every day of non-use corresponds to lost profits for the dock owner / agent.

[0014] There is therefore a need which is not satisfied by systems known in the state of the art to produce a dock protection system which makes it possible to resolve the above-described disadvantages.

[0015] The harbour dock protection system proposed in this patent application aims to intercept the action of forces and any other erosive action through an innovative structure to be fixed to the structural elements of the dock; this structure prevents the erosion of the support surface and / or the constraint conditions of the fixed structures by constituting a barrier to forces and physical protection of the structural elements; in turn the protection device is protected with stone blocks. As will be apparent from the following description, the invention is not limited to the specific shape of the dock, but can be used on any type of dock.

[0016] The present invention achieves the above objects by making a system comprising at least one protection device positionable at the structural element of the dock, for example a cellular box, superimposed on said structural element and interposed between said structural element and the naval vessels.

[0017] Furthermore, the protection device comprises at least one support frame fixed directly to the structural element and at least one plate fixed to the support frame. In addition, in the condition fixed to the structural element, the plate has an end edge at least in contact with the seabed and / or penetrating the seabed.

[0018] Finally, the protection device is configured in such a way that said end edge, in the fixed condition of the protection device, is positioned below the foot of the structural element.

[0019] According to an improvement, in situations where erosive phenomena have already generated cavities of significant size, the protection device provides that the lower end edge of the plate is inserted (for a certain length) into the seabed cavity formed by erosion phenomena, at the surface of the structural element of the dock to which the plate and its frame are fixed.

[0020] This configuration, extended throughout the development of the erosive cavity, in addition to protecting the trigger zone, creates a barrier that allows the cavity to be filled with inert materials and mortars injected under pressure. In this way, the support or constraint surface of the structural elements is reconstituted, restoring the original functionality of the dock. Once the structural restoration operation has been completed, the plate incorporated into the filling must be protected by a front of stone blocks, positioned so that their extrados remains flush with the support (or constraint) plane of the structural element, preventing the formation of turbulence. This prevents the erosive phenomenon from spreading below the plate over time, creating new cavities.

[0021] The illustrated configuration offers the best compromise between constructional simplicity, manufacturing and maintenance costs, and functionality of the system described in the present invention.

[0022] The system that is the object of the present invention, therefore, proposes an active protection of the wall of the dock, interposing a protection device, the function of which is to absorb the hydrodynamic flows generated by the naval thrusters, which will not impact against the wall, keeping it intact and, consequently, less subject to abrasion and corrosion phenomena in a very aggressive context such as that of the marine environment. The extension of the plate beyond the seabed, in turn stabilized by the stone blocks, creates a continuous surface between the seabed and the protection device, so that the plate intercepts any residue of the seabed moved by the manoeuvring propellers of the ships, preventing such residues from impacting against the structural element of the dock.

[0023] Regardless of the specific construction of the protection device, the constituent elements, for whatever reason, can be easily replaced without requiring the dock to be disused or out of service for long periods of time.

[0024] The metal materials used to build the protection system, as well as its support system, are preferably chosen to be inexpensive and not to create galvanic couplings with the metal structures of the reinforced concrete that accelerate the electrochemical corrosion of the latter.

[0025] Advantageously, the plate is made of metal materials preferably chosen to be inexpensive and not to create galvanic couplings with the metal structures of the support, as well as those of the reinforced concrete, which accelerate electrochemical corrosion phenomena. Preferable examples of materials are structural steels, e.g. steels of grade S275 and S355.

[0026] Purely by way of example, the plate may consist of a sheet with a thickness of 10 millimetres, made of steel of the type S355 UNI EN10025.

[0027] The support frame, on the other hand, is preferably made of a UPN 300 profile with steel of the type S275 UNI EN10025.

[0028] Based on the configuration described, it is evident that the system that is the object of the present invention protects the structures of the docks from large manoeuvring ships, without requiring any maintenance and with particularly limited installation costs, due to the simplicity of construction, which moreover does not provide any type of automation mechanism, nor movement of the components of the system itself.

[0029] The minimal constructive complexity makes it possible to obtain a high degree of ease of intervention, without interrupting the availability of the harbour dock.

[0030] The installation of the system on site is also particularly fast and effective, the various components of the system can be assembled away from the installation site, so that the installation itself only requires the fixing of the support frame to the dock.

[0031] Finally, the constructive simplicity of the system that is the object of the present invention makes it possible to obtain a standard solution that can be managed with industrial production criteria to obtain a low- cost product by relying on large production volumes.

[0032] Based on the characteristics that will be described below, it is specified that the system that is the object of the present invention is compatible with the environment, as it does not release substances over time that alter the marine environment, or its ecosystem.

[0033] Furthermore, as will be evident from the illustration of some exemplary embodiments, the system that is the object of the present invention represents a scalable modular solution so that it can easily follow the functional evolution of the harbour infrastructure over time.

[0034] As anticipated, the present invention, starting from the general concept of active protection of the dock, aims to achieve a protection device, particularly effective and having particular technical characteristics aimed at facilitating its use and installation.

[0035] For this reason, the features that will be described below are aimed at fulfilling this purpose.

[0036] According to a first embodiment variant, the protection device has a profile corresponding to the profile of the structural element of the dock, in particular of the zone at the foot of the dock.

[0037] According to a further embodiment, at least the plate is covered by an outer protective coating layer, configured to protect the plate from corrosion.

[0038] The outer coating layer preferably consists of a composition containing two-dimensional crystals suitably homogeneously mixed within a matrix of another material, e.g., a polymer matrix.

[0039] A possible example of a similar compound is described in the Italian patent application 102021000013169, the content of which is to be considered an integral part of the present disclosure. An example of a two-dimensional crystal is hexagonal boron nitride, whose two-dimensional morphology represents a physical barrier. Physically, the dense delocalized electron cloud of overlapping iT-orbitals of hexagonal boron nitride generates a physical barrier against molecules or ions, leading to characteristic atomic impermeability. The latter is crucial in providing the corrosion protection role of hexagonal boron nitride. In addition, hexagonal boron nitride is electrically insulating, and prevents the generation of unwanted galvanic currents that can accelerate the corrosion of the substrates to be protected.

[0040] The outer coating layer has the property of electrically insulating the protection device, generally made of metallic material, giving the system effective protection from electrochemical corrosion caused by the presence of corrosive species (chlorides). The electrical insulation also prevents electrochemical corrosion of metal components associated with the presence of stray currents / galvanic couplings between the support frame and the metal structures reinforcing the dock to be protected.

[0041] The outer coating layer also has the characteristic of being stable over time and of not releasing harmful substances, for example chromium, often used for the construction of corrosion-resistant metal protective systems, into the marine environment.

[0042] In addition to what has been described, the outer coating layer is resistant to the abrasive and erosive action caused by external agents, especially in aggressive environments, preserving the anti-corrosive properties for long periods.

[0043] The presence of the outer coating layer also makes it possible to create an outer surface with antifouling capacity, creating a surface with properties that reject microorganisms.

[0044] Preferably, such characteristics are associated with hydrophobic properties of the coating and are partially imparted by the two-dimensional crystals incorporated in the coating layer, e.g. the two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride. Preferably, the outer coating layer consists of a compound on which various chemical-physical and mechanical tests have been performed.

[0045] For example, some samples were coated with this compound and immersed in seawater for 180 days, with the water surface remaining ventilated, allowing natural oxygenation, thus creating a corrosive electrochemical environment. This test was carried out following the procedures indicated in the "Seawater Immersion Test" standard (ISO 2812-2).

[0046] From the result of this immersion on the samples having a scratch of the coating made prior to immersion, it is possible to note that the corrosive phenomenon affected only the etched region of the samples affected by the scratch but not the part protected by the coating. No swelling and / or bubbles (e.g. blistering and pitting) have been noticed in the vicinity of the scratch.

[0047] No phenomena of detachment of the coating from the substrate were noted even in areas with small application defects and on the edges. Good corrosion protection even in the case of limited coating thicknesses (e.g. less than 100 micrometres) and no water penetration between the substrate and the paint from the free edges of the coating, excluding subfilm corrosion phenomena.

[0048] A test was also carried out on the compound constituting the outer coating layer to evaluate the resistance of the adhesives to 90-degree detachment ("pull-off test").

[0049] This test was performed in accordance with ISO 4624:2016 (or ASSTM D6862), gluing special pads ("dolly", diameter 20 mm) with two- component epoxy adhesive on the substrate and subsequently removing them with the manual hydraulic actuator of the equipment. An engraving was made on the edge of the gluing with a special cutter, as required by the aforementioned legislation.

[0050] The standard force measurement necessary for the detachment of the pad from the substrate provided adhesion forces (normalized on the dolly area, and therefore expressed in MPa) much higher than the values of similar painting products, reaching values close to 15 MPa. Furthermore, no particular correlations between paint thicknesses and adhesion forces were found.

[0051] A substrate bending test was also carried out on the compound constituting the outer coating layer, in accordance with ISO 1519:2011 , and on special machinery with different mandrels of increasing diameter (from 10 mm to 28 mm). In particular, the mechanical stresses resulting from these spindle diameters are significantly higher than those expected from the operating conditions of the metal sheets forming the docks. Despite this, the sample subjected to bending with a spindle of 28 mm diameter showed cracks that were very limited and detectable only with visual inspection from a distance of about twenty centimetres in the edge zones at the bending zone, indicating excellent mechanical properties of the paint.

[0052] Preliminary Shore D hardness tests (in accordance with ISO 7619- 1 or ASTM D2240) were also carried out on the same samples.

[0053] The purpose of such tests is to evaluate the hardness of the outer protective coating layer. To this purpose, measurements were also carried out on protective coatings and various materials available in the laboratory.

[0054] Three measurements were made at three points in different areas of each sample, as required by the test procedure, and the average of the measurements was calculated at the three points which determines the Shore D hardness value of the area in question of the tested sample.

[0055] Shore D hardnesses between 85 and 93 were measured for the samples examined, thus indicating a high hardness of the coating, providing effective mechanical protection of the underlying substrate.

[0056] Once the bending tests were carried out, the bent samples were immersed in seawater (real), therefore simulating the tests in accordance with the ISO 2812-2:2019 standard. Following about 100 days of immersion, no particular signs of corrosion were detected near the surface of the samples subjected to bending performed with spindles between 15 and 28 mm, indicating excellent barrier properties of the coating even following high mechanical bending stresses.

[0057] An impact resistance test, i.e. impact test simulating ISO 6272- 1_2013 or ASTM D 2794, was also performed on the constituent compound of the outer coating layer. On each test sample, tests were carried out in 9 areas on two sides, carrying out a total of 36 tests varying both the weight (1 kg and 0.6 kg) and the fall height (from 10 cm to 50 cm). The penetrator is a 20mm diameter hardened steel ball.

[0058] The variation of the test parameters makes it possible to appreciate the energy value necessary to create a damage of the protective layer following an impact with a body without notched profiles. In general, drop heights of 10 cm, and in many cases even 20 cm, did not result in substrate being uncovered for both 0.6 kg and 1 kg penetrator weights. The samples also optimally withstood impact with a 0.6 kg penetrator for a fall height of 25 cm.

[0059] The samples were subsequently immersed in seawater (real) together with the samples subjected to bending test to evaluate the corrosion resistance of the damaged protective state. Despite surface damage, the samples continued to show excellent corrosion resistance after 60 days of immersion, with corrosive attack present only and exclusively in some of the exposed areas to a relatively limited extent.

[0060] An abrasion resistance test was also performed on the constituent compound of the outer coating layer, simulating ISO 7784 or ASTM 4060).

[0061] To carry out this test, special equipment has been created to detect the force applied in compression on a rotating tool mounted on a spindle. The equipment makes it possible to vary the compression force, the rotation speed and to change the tool. It was initially thought to use a brush with a diameter of 80 mm, made of metal or synthetic material equivalent to an abrasive with 80 mesh. Subsequently, tests were carried out with various abrasive pads of similar diameter to the brushes (glass paper with 60, 180, 320 mesh or abrasive cloth shown). Tests were performed for different values of the force applied in nine zones of the sample, analogous to the impact tests, with the same tool and for a fixed time (30 or 60 seconds).

[0062] The degradation status of the protective coating layer was verified at the end of the test.

[0063] The forces applied on the surface with a diameter of about 80 mm can be related to the pressure of a fluid flow generated by the propellers of boats docking or manoeuvring. However, the forces applied in the abrasion tests made it possible to identify an order of magnitude of the effective force for abrasion equal to a few kg (between 3 kg and 5 kg depending on the type of abrasive agent).

[0064] At the end of the tests, the samples were immersed in seawater (like the samples subjected to impact and bending tests). After 50 days of immersion, the samples showed excellent corrosion resistance even after abrasion tests, except for the most critical cases that showed an initial corrosive attack but only in some of the areas fully uncovered by the coating.

[0065] A sand abrasion resistance test was also performed on the constituent compound of the outer coating layer, simulating ASTM D968. The test was performed on both sides, dropping from different heights (1 m, 2 m and 3 m) and varying the inclination of the sample with respect to the vertical direction (30° and 60°), three different types of gravel / sand (coarse, medium, fine). It is basically gravel with a granulometry of about l O-^Omm, crusher gravel with a granulometry of about 3-8mm and fine sand from construction.

[0066] The test equipment consists of a containment box, a sample support structure with an inclination of 30° or 60°, a 40 mm diameter tube, with the possibility of varying its height, installed above the sample, and a video camera appropriately positioned for each test in the vicinity of the sample.

[0067] The test highlights the ability of the protective layer to withstand a concentrated impact action by an abrasive agent of different dimensions and with different kinetic energy on impact. It can be seen that a significant mass of the impacting agent is required to damage the protective coating even at the highest drop heights.

[0068] The test also showed that the angle of inclination of the sample with respect to the direction of the impacting body has a relative influence. This can be explained by the randomness of both the shape of the impacting body and the actual zone of contact with the sample. The set of tests performed makes it possible to have an estimate, albeit very approximate, of the impact energy necessary to damage the protective coating. Considering the actions on the harbour docks estimated in the first phase of the project, it can be said that the damage can be caused by bodies suspended in the fluid of dimensions at least equal to "coarse" sand if not greater.

[0069] An erosion resistance test was also performed on the constituent compound of the outer coating layer.

[0070] The test involves the erosion of the protective coating layer with dry calibrated sand that is impacted on the surface of the samples by jetting compressed air at about 8 bar pressure from different distances.

[0071] It has been found that only at a very close distance of 30-50 mm for times of the order of 30-60 seconds it is possible to erode the protective coating, while at greater distances the effects are significantly less until they become almost negligible for distances of the order of 150 mm.

[0072] On a sample, very close tests (distance 30 mm) were carried out in the edge zone to confirm the previous findings.

[0073] Finally, a propulsion test was performed on the constituent compound of the outer coating layer.

[0074] The test involves washing the surface of the sample with a jet of water under pressure, analogous to the process of hydrocleaning the surfaces. The samples are relatively large in size because the waterjet is rocked from one side of the sample to the other on parallel lines. In this test the jet was calibrated to be appropriately concentrated. The test was first performed using a pressure lance connected to compressed air at 8 bar and then a pressure washer lance with jet pressures up to 130 bar.

[0075] In no case did even close and prolonged propulsion with only water cause damage to the protective coating.

[0076] This test shows that water without solid particles in suspension, even at high pressure, has negligible effects on the coating.

[0077] According to an embodiment variant of the system that is the object of the present invention, an inner coating layer is provided interposed between the outer coating layer and the metal surface of the plate of the protection device. This inner coating layer is intended to improve the adhesion of the outer coating layer and also constitutes a conductive "primer". Preferably, the outer coating layer has thicknesses of less than 20 micrometres, preferably less than 10 micrometres. Examples of such an inner coating layer are preferably rapidly hydrolyzing and overpainting inorganic ethyl silicate galvanising primers, typically used in industry (including application in the maritime sector) for short-term protection of metal surfaces from oxidation and other electrochemical corrosion phenomena.

[0078] Preferably, the protection device is therefore a multi-layer structure, that is, a metal sheet covered by a mono- or multi-layer coating layer, wherein each layer performs a specific function, in particular: the metal plate, which serves as a mechanical barrier for protecting the dock, the coating layer, in either single-layer or multi-layer configuration, adapted to protect the plate from electrochemical corrosion, as well as to avoid unwanted galvanic coupling between the plate and other metal components, i.e. the support frame and the metal reinforcements of the docks. This layer also offers excellent mechanical properties, i.e. resistance to impact, abrasion, erosion, propulsion.

[0079] The multilayer structure is mounted on a support frame. Preferably, the coating layer, mono-layer or multi-layer, is deposited both on the plate and on the support frame of the protection device.

[0080] In order to better adhere to all surfaces, deposition takes place through a spraying process, following specific treatments performed on the protection device, such as cleaning and sandblasting, also with electrolysis processes.

[0081] The protection device can be implemented in any material known in the state of the art.

[0082] Preferably, the protection device is made of steel to meet the principles of a circular economy, as a recyclable material par excellence.

[0083] As anticipated, the protection device and in particular the plate can be made with metal materials preferably chosen to be inexpensive and not to create galvanic couplings with the metal structures of the support, as well as those of the reinforced concrete, which accelerate electrochemical corrosion phenomena, but rather, can even protect them by functioning as sacrificial anodes. Preferable examples of materials are structural steels, e.g. steels of grade S275 and S355.

[0084] As discussed above, the activation of the naval thrusters creates particularly turbulent hydrodynamic flows in the vicinity of the dock that over time modify the constraint conditions in the ground to the point of compromising the stability of the structure of the dock itself.

[0085] As will be seen from the illustration of some embodiments, most of the docks are made of structural elements consisting of reinforced concrete cellular boxes. In order to distribute the load over a larger area of the foundation, the support surface of the box is increased by creating a protruding foot structurally connected to the box. This projection forces the frame and the plate of the protection device to be shaped so as to cover the protrusion before inserting into the cavity.

[0086] As mentioned above, the protection device is fixed to the wall of the cellular box; at the foot (where provided) the protection device is fixed to the foot itself in such a way as to have an anchoring point to support the part of the protection inserted into the cavity. This configuration makes it possible to "confine" the cavity that has been created under the box on the ship's side and to inject the cement mortar with the sub-horizontal jet grouting technique after filling the cavity with inert material (quarry stone) and after checking the "seal" of the system to contain pressures and avoid dispersion into the sea. The stone blocks, in this context, perform a dual function: they counteract the thrusts that are exerted on the protection device in the section inserted into the cavity during the injection phase and protect the reconstruction of the support (or constraint) surface from the erosive action of the forces generated by the manoeuvring propellers to avoid the formation of new cavities that could form below the protection device.

[0087] Obviously, depending on the geometry of the dock wall, the protection device may have different shapes, but, preferably, it will always have a part inserted into the seabed to intercept the line of contact between the seabed and the structural element which in the most common case consists of the ship side wall of the cellular box.

[0088] Finally, it is specified that, in order to measure the forces acting on the protection device, in order to understand the wear of the device itself, it is possible to provide a sensor system, configured to detect the pressure acting on the protection device.

[0089] In view of the advantageous aspects of the system described above, the present invention also relates to a method for positioning and installing the harbour dock protection system described above.

[0090] In the most generic variant, the method that is the object of the present invention provides the following steps:

[0091] - immersion of the protection device,

[0092] - anchoring the support frame to the wall of the dock in such a way that the plate has an end edge at least in contact with and / or penetrating said seabed and in such a way that the end edge is positioned below the foot of the structural element.

[0093] Advantageously, according to an improvement, the method that is the object of the present invention provides the following steps: - immersion and anchoring of the frame to the structural element for the entire extension of the cavity or the zones subjected to the forces generated by the manoeuvring propellers of large ships

[0094] - immersion of the protection device and fixing of the protection plates to the frame,

[0095] - filling the cave (where provided) with quarry rubble

[0096] - immersion and anchoring of the frame, in continuity with that already anchored to the structural element at the foot (if present) of the cellular box,

[0097] - immersion and fixing of the plate to the frame anchored to the foot; the purpose of the plate is to protect the foot and to continue in the cavity to the bottom of the same so as to close the cavity on the ship's side,

[0098] - insertion of the equipment to perform the sub-horizontal jet grouting using some plates suitably shaped for this purpose,

[0099] - removal of the equipment to perform the jet grouting and immersion and positioning of the stone blocks with the long side in contact with the plate and the extrados at the level of the seabed after verifying the need to prepare the site with excavations and / or fillings to arrange the stone blocks themselves. Each block (or cushion) will have a thickness of about 1 metre, a length of about 6 metres and a width of 4-5 metres, positioned side by side to protect in length the entire zone affected by the protection device which, generally, will cover the entire extension of the cavity (if present) with margin or, in any case, the entire zone affected by the action of the manoeuvring propellers.

[0100] Starting from this general concept, it is possible to envisage several steps aimed at improving and facilitating the installation of the system itself, without the need to require long and costly operations that compromise, even temporarily, the operation of the dock.

[0101] These and further objects of the present invention are achieved by a system and a method according to the appended independent claims and the sub-claims. Optional features of the method and of the system of the invention are contained in the appended dependent claims, which form an integral part of the present disclosure.

[0102] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following disclosure of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: figure 1 illustrates the dock protection system that is the object of the present invention, according to a possible embodiment aimed at instrumenting the plate with ten sensors to detect the pressures of the hydrodynamic forces and record the data for a certain period of time after anchoring it on the wall of a dock box; figures 2a and 2b illustrate two views of the components of the protection device belonging to the system that is the object of the present invention and used for the tests described above; figure 3 illustrates a detail of the protection device, aimed at showing the fixing of the different components; figure 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the dock protection system that is the object of the present invention; figures 5a and 5b illustrate two views of two sequential steps in the installation of the protection device; figure 6 illustrates in perspective a configuration of a prefabricated module formed by three plates. This configuration is the scalable basis of the protection device; figure 7 shows a view of a component of the protection device in which a sensor system of the present invention is integrated; figures 8a and 8b illustrate two details relating to the sensor system.

[0103] It is specified that the figures fixed to the present patent application indicate some preferred embodiments of the harbour dock protection system that is the object of the present invention to better understand their advantages and characteristics.

[0104] These embodiments are therefore to be understood as purely illustrative and not limiting to the inventive concept of the present invention, namely that of making a particularly efficient dock protection system, easy to use and install, inexpensive, which does not require frequent maintenance interventions and which makes it possible to obtain an active and dynamic protection of the dock.

[0105] In particular, a specific embodiment of a dock is illustrated in the attached figures, comprising a box of a specific shape, but, based on what is described above, it is evident how the system that is the object of the present invention can be used with any shape and type of the dock.

[0106] With particular reference to figure 6, a perspective view of a harbour dock is illustrated, comprising a cellular box 1 , made of reinforced concrete and supported on the seabed 100.

[0107] The box 1 has a front wall 10, facing in the direction of docking / undocking of the boats approaching / moving away from the dock.

[0108] The box 1 also has an upper wall 11 , that can support foot traffic, for carrying out common disembarkation / embarkation operations.

[0109] At the top wall 11 there is an abutment element 110 used to prevent the hulls of the docking boats from impacting against the edges of the box 1.

[0110] Based on what has been described, it is evident that, even if the sea level is not shown in Figure 6, the dock 1 identifies an emerged portion, i.e. above sea level, comprising the upper wall 11 and a submerged portion, comprising the majority of the front wall 10.

[0111] The system that is the object of the present invention comprises a protection device 2 positioned at the front wall 10, superimposed on said wall and interposed between the wall 10 and the naval vessels.

[0112] The protection device 2 can be fixed to the wall 10 at a height of the wall itself such that the protection device has an end edge at least in contact with the seabed 100 and / or penetrating said seabed.

[0113] Furthermore, the protection device 2 is configured in such a way that the end edge, in the fixed condition of the protection device 2, is positioned below the foot of said structural element. This configuration will be described with particular reference to Figures 5a and 5b. Furthermore, the protection device 2 is configured to protect the wall 10 from the flows created by the propulsion propellers of the ships approaching / moving away from the dock, due to the presence of a plate

[0114] 20.

[0115] With particular reference to figures 2a and 2b, the protection device 2 comprises at least one support frame 21 fixed directly to the wall 10 and at least one plate 20 fixed to the support frame 21 .

[0116] The support frame 21 is preferably made up of two vertical uprights 22 connected together by a plurality of horizontal elongate elements 23.

[0117] In particular, both the uprights 22 and the elongate elements 23 are composed of metal profiles, UPN beams.

[0118] The support frame 21 performs a double function, in that, on one hand it fixes the plate 20 with bolts and on the other it anchors to the structure of the dock with chemical anchors.

[0119] In the assembled condition of the uprights 22 to the elements 23, the support frame 21 preferably has a length dimension, i.e. along the direction A, of about 4000 millimetres and a width dimension, i.e. along the direction B, of about 2400 millimetres.

[0120] The plate 20 is preferably made of steel, in particular S355 steel.

[0121] The plate 20 has a length dimension, i.e. along the direction A, of about 4000 millimetres and a width dimension, i.e. along the direction B, of about 2000 millimetres.

[0122] As anticipated, the plate 20 is fixed to the support frame 21 , so that the support frame 21 is interposed between the front wall 10 of the dock and the plate 20.

[0123] As described above, advantageously, the plate 20 is covered by an outer coating layer.

[0124] The support frame 21 may also be covered by said outer coating layer.

[0125] It is also possible to provide, for the plate 20 and / or for the support frame 21 , an inner coating layer, interposed between the outer coating layer and the outer surfaces of the plate 20 and / or of the support frame

[0126] 21. The support frame 21 and the plate 20 may be covered separately and then coupled.

[0127] As known from the state of the art, the plate 20 and / or the supporting frame 21 can be subjected to treatments to allow a better adhesion of the protective coating layers, as well as providing for a galvanizing treatment.

[0128] The assembly of the plate 20 and support frame 21 allows a modular unit to be made, which can be replicated any number of times, based on the size of the wall 10.

[0129] It should be noted that the modular unit that optimises installation costs consists of three modular units and is referred to as the prefabricated module illustrated in Figure 6.

[0130] Advantageously, the protection device 2 taken individually or in the form of a prefabricated module, allows a composition through the union of several prefabricated modules, to obtain a linear extension such as to envelop all the zones of the dock affected by the actions of the manoeuvring propellers of all the ships having jurisdiction in that dock.

[0131] In fact, figure 3 illustrates a possible fixing methodology.

[0132] Figure 3 shows a section of the dock protection system that is the object of the present invention according to a plane perpendicular to the wall 10 and oriented parallel to the seabed.

[0133] The section of the vertical upright 22 belonging to a support frame 21 is thus illustrated.

[0134] With reference to figure 3, the vertical upright 22 provides fixing to the plate 20 through a bolt-nut system 200.

[0135] In a similar way, the same vertical upright 22 can provide fixing to a corresponding plate 20 arranged on the left.

[0136] The nut system 220, as well as the screw 221 can be made of carbon steels, which undergo a galvanising pretreatment.

[0137] In addition, the vertical upright 22 is fixed to the wall 10 with a threaded bar (screw) 221 and tightened to the wall with a nut 220 and a washer 222 According to a possible embodiment, it is possible to envisage using active or passive protection insulating systems, through the insertion of insulations in the potential "electrical bridges" (anchors).

[0138] As discussed above, the possibility of joining several support frames 21 together makes it possible to make a set of modular units, in order to cover the desired length of the dock wall 10 with the protection devices 2, as illustrated in Figure 4.

[0139] According to what has been described so far, the protection device 2 has a plate 20, arranged on a single plane, parallel to the wall 10.

[0140] However, the propulsion systems of the boats also generate an erosive effect on the support surface of the cellular box i.e. the foundation.

[0141] As the cross section of figure 5a illustrates, the seabed 100 is eroded due to the forces generated by the manoeuvring propellers of the boats, forming empty zones 101 (erosive cavities) into which the water can penetrate, but which does not make it possible to provide support to the foundation of the box 1 , putting its stability at risk.

[0142] For this reason, as illustrated in the cross section of Figure 5b, the system that is the object of the present invention comprises filling the cavity with quarry stone and injections with jet grouting or similar solutions 102 aimed at filling the void zone 101 .

[0143] In addition, in this case, the plate 20 has two end sections 200 and 201 configured to cover the foot of the box and be inserted into the cavity until it penetrates the bottom.

[0144] According to an embodiment variant, the support frame 21 will also have to be extended to follow the progress of the plate 20 and the end sections 200 and 201 .

[0145] Regardless of the construction of the end portion of the plate 20, said portion has an end edge 202 inserted into the seabed 100.

[0146] With particular reference to Figure 5b, the vacuum that is formed under the foot of the dock before installation of the protection device is filled with quarry stone and injected with jet grouting or similar solutions. For this purpose, the plate 20 will be suitably machined to allow the insertion of the equipment to perform this intervention and constitute a sealing barrier to contain the cement mortar injections, but leaving the water flowing back from inside the cavity. To prepare the constituent elements of the protection device it is essential to obtain a relief of the cavity throughout the extension so as to prepare the frame 21 and the plate 201 with the right dimensions before assembly.

[0147] In addition, in Figure 5b the stone blocks 103 are illustrated, positioned at the foot of the dock, subsequently installed on the plate 201 and adapted to protect the support surface of the box 1 after the restoration intervention to recreate the original conditions of the dock.

[0148] The stone blocks can be made of any material that has limited deterioration with respect to the possible action generated by the manoeuvring propellers. The most important aspect is to create, on the front support line of the structural element (or constraint), surfaces without the discontinuities that are the cause of the formation of turbulences that trigger erosive phenomena in the presence of the hydrodynamic forces generated by the manoeuvring electrics of large ships and the consequent dragging of sediments. For this reason, the stone blocks must have the upper surface (extrados) aligned with the seabed (foundation) and extend towards the ship by a few metres in order to avoid the erosive phenomena being triggered again under the plate 201 after the restoration of the dock.

[0149] Before laying the stone block it is necessary to prepare the seat that will partly use the cavity in front of the plate 201 ; stone fillings and excavations will probably be necessary to shape the seat to obtain a geometry adapted to guarantee stability to the stone block by also carrying out appropriate roughcasts of stone to eliminate any voids, so as to ensure a surface free of discontinuities.

[0150] Figures 6 illustrate the perspective view, respectively, of the described solution limited in extension to a prefabricated module, the details of which are illustrated in Figures 5a and 5b.

[0151] It can therefore be seen that the plate 20, in addition to protecting the surface of the dock structure from the abrasive effect, will have the task of protecting the support surface of the cellular box 1 from the erosive action generated by the manoeuvring propellers. In turn, the plate 20 and in particular the end part 201 is protected from the stone block.

[0152] Finally, according to a further embodiment, the protection device 2 belonging to the protection system that is the object of the present invention, comprises a sensor system, configured to detect the pressure acting at the level of the plate 20.

[0153] Figure 7 illustrates a possible embodiment of such a sensor system fixed to the support frame 21 .

[0154] The sensor system comprises membrane pressure transducers 30 distributed on the surface of the plate 20 and connected through special cables 31 housed inside conduits 320, 321 , to a control unit 34, illustrated in figure 1 , positioned on the emerged part of the dock, for the acquisition of the data detected by the sensors 30.

[0155] According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the sensor system comprises two conduits 320 which, starting from the control unit 34, extend along the vertical uprights 22 of the frame 21 until they reach a corresponding junction box 33.

[0156] The junction boxes 33 have end blocks connecting the connection cables to the sensors 30.

[0157] It follows that each sensor 30 is connected with a cable, which will be illustrated later, to the end block in the junction box 33, which cable is inserted inside a corresponding conduit 321 .

[0158] From the junction box 33, the sensor connection cables extend in the direction of the control unit and are inserted into a conduit 320.

[0159] Figures 8a and 8b illustrate a detail of the sensor system, in particular the end part of the conduits 321 housing the sensors 30.

[0160] Figure 8a shows a section of the end part of the conduit 321 with the cable 31 and the sensor 30, while figure 8b shows a section of the end part of the conduit 321 without the sensor 30 and the cable 31 .

[0161] With particular reference to Figures 8a and 8b, the conduit 321 has a 90° curved end portion so that the pressure sensor 30 is always facing the plane of the plate 20. The plate 20 has a through hole 203 configured for the insertion of a bushing 4 adapted to housing the sensor 30.

[0162] To ensure the seal of the bushing 4, an "o-ring" gasket 40 is provided between the bushing 4 and the outer surface of the plate 20.

[0163] The bushing 4 is then fixed, at the inner surface of the plate 20, to the end section of the conduit 321 , through sealing elements 41 made of Teflon and interposed between the outer surface of the bushing 4 and the inner surface of the end section of the conduit 321 .

[0164] In a similar way, there are sealing elements 42 interposed between the outer wall of the sensor 30 and the inner wall of the bushing 4, in order to ensure that the sensor 30 is fixed in place.

[0165] Based on the construction characteristics described so far, it is possible to provide a unique installation methodology of the system that is the object of the present invention, which provides for the following activities in sequential order: partial cleaning of the wall 10 of the cellular box 1 in order to remove vegetation to allow the installation of the protection device 2; downward lowering of the protection device 2 by suitable means, from the dock or from the sea depending on the operational needs; approaching and temporary coupling of the protection device 2 to the foot of the cellular box to allow the correct positioning of the structure; anchoring of the protection device 2 to the wall 10 of the cellular box by means of chemical anchors and verification of the anchoring; connection of the cables to the end block of the control unit positioned on the dock in a special watertight box and clearing of the dock; at the departure of each container ship, connection of the control unit with at least one mobile device for data recording.

[0166] While the invention is subject to various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

[0167] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but, on the contrary, the aim is to cover all the modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0168] The use of “for example”, “etc.”, “or” indicates non-exclusive alternatives without limitation, unless otherwise indicated. The use of “includes” means “includes but is not limited to”, unless otherwise stated.

Claims

CLAIMS1. System for protecting harbour docks from hydrodynamic flows generated by thrusters of naval vessels docking and / or undocking from the docks, which docks have at least one structural element facing the direction of the docking and / or undocking naval vessels, which structural element is partially immersed in water, characterized in that said system comprises a protection device (2) positionable at said structural element, superimposed on said structural element and interposed between said structural element and said naval vessels, which protection device (2) comprises at least one support frame (21 ) directly fixed to said structural element and at least one plate (20) fixed to said support frame (21 ), in a condition fixed to the structural element, the plate (20) having an end edge (202) at least in contact with the seabed (100) and / or penetrating said seabed, said protection device (2) being configured in such a way that said end edge, in the fixed condition of the protection device (2), is positioned below the foot of said structural element.

2. System according to Claim 1 , wherein said protection device (2) has a profile corresponding to the profile of the structural element of the dock.

3. System according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein at least said plate (20) is covered by an outer protective coating layer, configured to protect the plate (20) from corrosion.

4. System according to Claim 3, wherein there is an inner protective coating layer positioned between the outer protective coating layer and the outer surfaces of the protection device.

5. System according to Claim 3, wherein said outer protective coating layer consists of a composition containing two-dimensional crystals homogeneously mixed within a polymer matrix.

6. System according to Claim 5, wherein said two-dimensional crystals comprise hexagonal boron nitride two-dimensional crystals.

7. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said plate (20) comprises a sensor system aimed at detecting the pressure acting on the surface of the plate (20) facing in the direction of the naval vessels when docking and / or undocking.

8. System according to Claim 7, wherein said sensor system comprises a plurality of conduits (320, 321 ) fixed to the protection device (2), said conduits (320, 321 ) being configured for housing the cables (31 ) of the sensors (30) and said conduits (320, 321 ) having an end part configured for housing the sensors (30), which end part is inserted in a corresponding insertion through hole (202) obtained in the thickness of the plate (20).

9. System according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a plurality of stone blocks (103) configured to be positioned at the foot of the dock is comprised, the plate (20) being interposed between the foot of the dock and said stone blocks.

10. Method of positioning and installing the harbour dock protection system according to one or more of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the method provides the following steps:- immersion of the protection device,- anchoring the support frame to the wall of the dock in such a way that the plate has an end edge at least in contact with and / or penetrating said seabed and in such a way that the end edge is positioned below the foot of the structural element.

11. Method according to Claim 10, wherein an initial step of positioning one or more stone blocks at the foot of the dock is provided so that the plate is interposed between the stone blocks and the foot of the dock.

12. Method according to Claim 10 or Claim 11 , wherein, after fixing the protection device to the dock, a step of positioning locking blocks at the foot of the dock is provided,13. Method according to one or more of Claims 10 to 12, wherein a step of connecting the sensor system to a control unit positioned in the emerged part of the dock is provided.

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