Offshore Foundation Caisson with Flexible Bottom Adaptation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for installing offshore foundations are cost-intensive and labor-intensive, often requiring extensive ground preparation and are not adaptable to irregular seabed conditions, with previous solutions failing to efficiently orient the foundation or reduce the volume of concrete needed.
Innovation Solution
A foundation system featuring a hollow gravity caisson with flexible bottom and peripheral walls, allowing adaptation to irregular ground and simultaneous concrete filling, along with a pre-stabilizing device using jacks to orient the caisson and minimize concrete volume by only filling specific areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid base structure is used to provide stability, then structural strength is improved, but adaptability to irregular ground conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible membranes as the base structure instead of rigid bases. These membranes can deform and conform to irregular seabed surfaces while maintaining structural integrity. The flexible nature allows the foundation to adapt to ground irregularities without requiring extensive ground preparation, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The base structure is designed with dynamic characteristics, allowing it to change shape and configuration in response to ground irregularities. This dynamic adaptability enables the foundation to maintain stability on uneven surfaces without requiring a rigid, pre-formed base structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If extensive ground preparation is performed to create a planar surface, then foundation stability is improved, but installation cost and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of preparing the ground to match the foundation requirements, the patent inverts the approach by designing the foundation to match the ground conditions. The flexible base conforms to the existing irregular seabed surface, eliminating the need for time-consuming ground preparation while maintaining foundation stability.
3Quantity of substance
If a hollow envelope structure is used to reduce concrete volume, then material usage is improved, but structural strength deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional rigid concrete envelopes with flexible membrane structures. These membranes provide the necessary containment and structural function while using significantly less material. The flexible nature of the membranes compensates for the reduced material volume by allowing optimal stress distribution and adaptation to loading conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system reduces the amount of concrete needed and allows for efficient adaptation to irregular seabed conditions, providing a stable footing with minimal concrete usage and enabling precise orientation of the caisson before concrete hardening.
Implementation Method 1
sinking the caisson close to ground by filling with water
Implementation Method 2
the flexible bottom of the envelope adapting to irregularities of the ground
Data Source
Figure 1a~7
Figure 1b
Figure 1c~2a
AI summary
A foundation for an off-shore structure comprises: - a hollow gravity caisson (8) fillable with water, and having a bottom surface, - one bag (13), attached to the caisson, extending below the caisson and fillable with a dense fluid element. The bag (13) comprises a flexible envelope (16) having a flexible bottom (21) and flexible peripheral walls (22) extending from the bottom to the caisson. Not all the bottom surface (8b) of the caisson has a bag below.