Polymeric Tensile Armor for Lightweight Submarine Cables
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Solution Overview
Problem
Submarine cables face challenges in providing sufficient tensile strength and resistance to high tensile stresses while maintaining a lightweight design, especially at deep sea depths, where existing solutions either increase bending stiffness or require additional cushioning elements.
Innovation Solution
A cable design featuring a tensile armor made of polymeric tensile elements with a low lay loss of 1.5% or less, comprising high tensile fibers within a polymeric jacket, which enhances tensile stability and reduces radial forces on the underlying structure, allowing for effective deployment at depths of 3000 meters or more without significant bending stiffness issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel tensile members are used to provide tensile strength, then tensile resistance is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies composite materials by combining polymeric fibers (such as aramid or high-performance polyethylene) with a polymeric matrix to create tensile elements that provide steel-equivalent tensile strength while significantly reducing weight. These composite tensile elements are embedded within the cable structure to provide the necessary mechanical strength without the excessive weight of traditional steel armors.
2Force
If gripping force of payoff system is increased to handle heavier cable, then cable deployment capability is improved, but compression resistance requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the anti-weight principle by using buoyant elements or foam layers within the cable structure to counteract the cable's self-weight. This reduces the effective weight that the payoff system gripping force must handle, thereby reducing the compression forces experienced by the cable during deployment while maintaining adequate deployment capability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If polymeric tensile elements with low lay loss are used, then tensile stability is improved, but bending stiffness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses composite materials with carefully selected fiber types and orientations to achieve both low lay loss (improving tensile stability) and adequate bending stiffness. The composite structure allows the fibers to be arranged in a configuration that minimizes energy loss during tension while maintaining the structural rigidity needed for proper cable handling and installation.
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 solution provides a cable with improved tensile stability and acceptable bending features, enabling successful deployment at deep sea depths with reduced weight and eliminating the need for additional cushioning elements, while maintaining manageable coiling and deposition.
Implementation Method 1
the elongated polymeric tensile element comprises a bundle of high tensile fibers and a polymeric jacket retaining said bundle of fibers
Data Source
AI summary
A cable has a tensile armor having a number of elongated polymeric tensile elements. At least one of the elongated polymeric tensile elements includes a bundle of high tensile fibers and a jacket tightly retaining the bundle of fibers. The elongated polymeric tensile elements are arranged with a lay loss of 1.5% at most. A method of manufacturing such a cable is also disclosed.