Remote Sonar Detection for Flooded Underwater Structural Members
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Solution Overview
Problem
Underwater support structures, such as offshore platforms, face challenges in visually inspecting tubular members for damage due to marine growth, and existing methods like acoustic devices require close proximity, making it difficult to identify flooded members effectively.
Innovation Solution
A sonar system is used to determine if a structural member is filled with air or water by directing an acoustic signal and processing the acoustic-structural response, allowing for non-contact inspection and differentiation between air-filled and flooded members, indicating potential cracks or damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If acoustic devices are placed in contact with structural members for inspection, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase due to requirement of close proximity and contact with marine growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces water as an intermediary medium between the acoustic device and the structural member. The acoustic device transmits signals through the water to the structural member, eliminating the need for direct contact with the member or marine growth. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction by maintaining detection capability while reducing device complexity and operational difficulty.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical contact-based acoustic inspection system with an acoustic field-based system. Instead of requiring physical contact between the inspection device and structural member, the system uses acoustic waves transmitted through water to detect flooded members, thereby reducing mechanical complexity while maintaining detection precision.
2Measurement precision
If acoustic devices are placed in contact with structural members, then detection precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in deploying and positioning devices in submerged environments
Solution Approach 1:
Water serves as an intermediary that enables the acoustic device to operate remotely from the structural member. The device can be positioned and operated from a safe distance, improving ease of operation while maintaining detection precision through the water-transmitted acoustic signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a contact-based inspection approach (zero-dimensional contact) to a remote acoustic field-based approach (three-dimensional spatial separation). This dimensional change allows the inspection device to operate from a distance, significantly improving ease of operation while maintaining detection precision through acoustic wave propagation.
3Ease of operation
If visual inspection methods are used on tubular members, then simplicity of operation is maintained, but detection capability deteriorates due to marine growth obscuring the members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual inspection with acoustic field-based detection. Acoustic waves penetrate the water and interact with the structural member, allowing detection through the water column without being obstructed by marine growth. This substitution maintains operational simplicity while dramatically improving detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Water acts as an intermediary medium that enables acoustic signal transmission through the submerged environment. The acoustic device can detect flooded members through the water without the signals being blocked by marine growth, thus maintaining simplicity of operation while improving detection capability.
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 sonar system enables efficient identification of flooded members from a distance, facilitating easier detection of cracks and damage in underwater support structures, thereby aiding in repair and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
directing an acoustic signal at a structural member of interest and detecting the acoustic-structural response
Implementation Method 2
listens for reflections from the possible steel to air or water, water to air or air to water, and water or air to steel interfaces
Data Source
AI summary
Utilizing a sonar system to determine if a structural member of an underwater support structure that is supposed to be filled with air is instead flooded with water. The determination that a supposedly air filled structural member is instead flooded with water provides an indication that the structural member is cracked or damaged, making it easier to find damaged members and effect suitable repair. The sonar system is located a distance from the structural member so that it is spaced from the structural member.