Underwater Suction Pile Installation With Impermeable Mat Sealing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Suction piles experience failure due to piping, a hydraulic failure in granular soils during installation, leading to ineffective penetration and potential abandonment or costly delays.
Innovation Solution
Laying a substantially impermeable mat on the seabed to block water flow through bypass channels, such as ratholes, allowing resumed suction to continue the installation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If suction is applied to embed the pile into the seabed, then penetration depth is improved, but piping failure occurs due to uncontrolled water flow through bypass channels
Solution Approach 1:
An impermeable mat is introduced as an intermediary element between the seabed and the bypass channel entrance. This mat acts as a mediator that blocks the harmful water flow path while allowing the suction force to continue acting on the pile, thereby preventing piping failure without compromising penetration depth
Solution Approach 2:
The harmful bypass channel (rathole) is effectively removed from the system by sealing its entrance with the impermeable mat. This extraction of the failure pathway eliminates the piping effect while maintaining the intended suction mechanism for pile installation
2Productivity
If suction pumping continues without interruption, then installation efficiency is improved, but piping failure leads to abandonment or costly delays
Solution Approach 1:
The impermeable mat is deployed in advance at the bypass channel entrance before piping failure can develop. This preliminary sealing action prevents the formation of uncontrolled water flow paths, allowing continuous suction pumping and maintaining installation efficiency without interruption
Solution Approach 2:
The impermeable mat serves as a protective measure deployed beforehand to cushion against the potential development of piping failure. By pre-sealing the bypass channel entrance, the system is protected against the harmful effects of uncontrolled water flow before they can occur
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
Effectively mitigates suction failure by preventing water flow through bypass channels, enabling continued penetration of the suction pile and reducing installation delays and costs.
Implementation Method 1
pumping water out of the resulting suction chamber 20 to create a pressure differential. Specifically, when the pump 26 is activated to pump seawater out of the suction chamber 20 through the valve 24, the resulting under-pressure in the suction chamber 20 causes the pile 10 to embed more fully
Implementation Method 2
Self-penetration of the pile 10 ends when the resistance of friction or cohesion to sliding motion of the skirt 16 relative to the seabed soil 14 balances the weight of the pile 10
Implementation Method 3
resistance of friction or cohesion to sliding motion of the skirt 16 relative to the seabed soil 14
Implementation Method 4
Water flow friction is resistance to a flow of water through the pores of the plug of soil 14 within the skirt 16
Data Source
AI summary
Suction failure due to a piping effect when installing a suction pile underwater is mitigated by laying at least one substantially impermeable mat on the seabed. An entrance of a piping channel extending under a skirt of the pile from a seabed location to a suction chamber of the pile is identified. The mat is laid to cover the entrance to restrict or block a flow of water entering the piping channel.