Suction Penetration Steel Pipe Cofferdam Construction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing cofferdam construction methods using large steel pipes face challenges in achieving a watertight seal with the seabed, leading to increased pipe length, weight, and transportation difficulties, requiring large-capacity cranes that are expensive and weather-dependent, causing construction delays and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a main circular pipe member submerged by its own weight, with additional pipe members stacked vertically and assembled watertight using suction pressure to penetrate into the seabed, eliminating the need for large-capacity cranes by maintaining a manageable pipe length and using guide pin piles for precise alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the steel pipe is simply submerged with self-weight, then the installation process is simple, but it is difficult to make the region between the steel pipe and the seabed surface watertight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses suction pressure (hydraulic principle) to penetrate the pipe into the seabed. A suction device creates negative pressure to draw the pipe downward into the seabed, achieving both watertight seal and controlled installation without requiring simple self-weight submersion alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the installation parameters by applying suction pressure to alter the pipe's penetration depth and sealing characteristics. By controlling the suction pressure magnitude and duration, the system achieves optimal penetration into the seabed while maintaining watertight integrity.
2Reliability
If the lower end of the steel pipe is penetrated deeply into the weak ground layer to achieve watertight seal, then the watertightness is improved, but the vertical length and weight of the steel pipe increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pressure mechanism allows the pipe to penetrate deeper into the seabed without proportionally increasing pipe length. The hydraulic suction force concentrates the penetration action at the pipe end, achieving deep penetration with moderate pipe length by utilizing pressure differentials rather than relying solely on increased structural length.
3Reliability
If the vertical length of the steel pipe is increased to achieve deep penetration, then the watertight seal is improved, but the size and weight of the steel pipe increase making it difficult to transport and handle
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pressure system enables deep seabed penetration with pipes of moderate length by applying concentrated force at the pipe end during installation. The hydraulic suction mechanism allows the pipe to be drawn into the seabed without requiring the pipe to be excessively long, as the penetration is achieved through pressure-driven insertion rather than simple submersion.
4Ease of operation
If a large-capacity floating crane is used to install and remove the cofferdam, then the handling capability is sufficient, but the construction cost increases enormously and operation becomes weather-dependent
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pressure installation method reduces the lifting and handling requirements for the pipe. By using suction to draw the pipe into the seabed rather than relying solely on crane-lowered placement, the system reduces the peak lifting capacity needed, enabling the use of smaller, more economical cranes that are less weather-dependent.
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
This approach allows for efficient and economic cofferdam construction with reduced construction costs and time, enabling quick installation and easy handling of circular pipe members, even in deep waters, without the need for large-capacity cranes, and facilitates easy dismantling using smaller cranes.
Implementation Method 1
penetrated into the seabed by means of a suction pressure
Implementation Method 2
A cofferdam according to the present disclosure includes a main circular pipe member (1) which is submerged by its own weight
Data Source
AI summary
A circular pipe member is penetrated into the seabed by a suction pressure, and a plurality of circular pipe members are vertically stacked thereon and integrated thereto to construct a cofferdam. When dismantling the cofferdam, the circular pipe members are disassembled and dismantled in order by using a lifting wire installed at a newly constructed structure installed in the inner space of the cofferdam.