Subsea Erosion Control Mat with Integrated Concrete Boots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Erosion control mats used for subsea applications often experience peeling issues during deployment due to mechanical interaction with pipelines, leading to incomplete protection.
Innovation Solution
A specially configured boot with inclined side panels and hemispherically shaped projections is used within a mould, filled with concrete to form blocks that are connected by cables or ropes, providing enhanced anchoring and stability to prevent peeling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional erosion control mats are deployed for subsea applications, then erosion protection is provided, but peeling occurs during deployment due to mechanical interaction with pipelines
Solution Approach 1:
The mat is divided into discrete blocks that are individually formed with integrated boots and anchor posts. This segmentation allows each block to be independently stable while forming a collective protective barrier, preventing the peeling that occurs in conventional continuous mats during deployment
Solution Approach 2:
The boot is nested within the block structure, with the boot forming an integral part of each block. The anchor posts extend from the boot into the block material, creating a nested configuration where the boot and anchor system are embedded within the block matrix, providing stable anchoring without peeling
2Stability of the object's composition
If anchor posts are added to prevent peeling, then stability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The boot, anchor posts, and block are merged into a single integrated unit formed in one manufacturing process. The boot is positioned in the mould, anchor posts are attached to the boot, and concrete is poured to form the block all in one operation, eliminating the need for separate assembly steps and reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The boot and anchor posts are prepared in advance within the mould before the concrete block is formed. This preliminary positioning and attachment of components ensures proper alignment and integration, simplifying the overall manufacturing process while achieving stable anchoring
3Area of stationary object
If blocks are connected by cables or ropes to form a mat, then coverage area increases, but connection points may become failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The mat is segmented into discrete blocks connected by cables or ropes. This segmentation allows the mat to cover large areas while maintaining flexibility and reducing stress concentration at connection points, as each block acts as an independent structural unit
Solution Approach 2:
Each block is given localized structural features including the integrated boot with anchor posts and inclined side walls. These local quality enhancements at each block provide uniform strength and stability throughout the mat, ensuring that connection points between blocks do not become weak links
Data Source
AI summary
An erosion control mat provides a plurality of concrete blocks. Each block has an upper portion with a plurality of upper inclined side walls. Each block has a lower portion with a plurality of inclined lower side walls. The block has an upper surface and a lower surface and a block periphery in the form of an edge where the upper and lower side walls meet. Cables or ropes connect the blocks together to form a block matrix and the erosion control mat. Each block has a boot affixed to the block lower portion, the boot having a plurality of inclined side panels. Each boot side panel has an upper edge. The boot has a lower panel, a boot interior surface and an interior that is receptive of at least part of the block lower portion. The boot inclined side panels engage the block inclined lower side walls. The boot lower panel engages the block lower surface. A plurality of anchor posts are attached to the interior surface of the boot. Some of the anchor posts are attached to the side wall panels to enable a connection to be formed between the boot inclined side panels and the block inclined lower side walls. Some of the anchor posts are attached to the lower panel of the boot to enable a connection to be formed between the boot lower panel and the block lower surface. As part of the method, the boot is first placed in a mold. Slurried concrete is then added to the mold so that a connection is formed between the boot anchor posts and the concrete when the concrete sets after a time period.