Tendon-Supported Membrane Pipe Resists Buckling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional large-diameter underwater pipes face significant engineering challenges due to ocean current drag forces, which impose bending stresses and require substantial structural complexity to resist buckling, making them costly and risky to manufacture and install.
Innovation Solution
A tendon-supported membrane pipe design where tendons, arranged lengthwise and covered by a flexible membrane, are pre-tensioned to resist external forces, allowing for the creation of long, joint-free pipes that are less expensive to manufacture and transport, with all materials remaining in tension to prevent buckling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rigid or semi-rigid pipe structures are used, then structural strength is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to internal stiffeners and buckling resistance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible membrane shell as the primary structural element, replacing rigid pipe walls with thin-film technology. This membrane, when tensioned by tendons, achieves sufficient strength while maintaining flexibility and dramatically reducing structural complexity compared to conventional rigid pipes with internal stiffeners
Solution Approach 2:
The tendons are pre-tensioned before the pipe is subjected to external loads, creating initial compressive stress in the membrane that prevents buckling. This preliminary action of tensioning the tendons establishes the membrane in a stable, buckling-resistant state before ocean currents or other external forces are applied
2Productivity
If longer pipe structures are used to reduce joints, then productivity is improved, but reliability decreases due to increased bending stresses from ocean currents
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible membrane structure allows the pipe to bend and deflect under ocean current loads without developing the high bending stresses that would occur in rigid pipes. This flexibility enables longer pipe lengths to be used reliably, reducing the number of joints and improving installation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The pipe structure is designed to be dynamically responsive to external forces, allowing it to deflect and move with ocean currents rather than resisting them rigidly. This dynamic behavior reduces stress accumulation and enables longer uninterrupted pipe sections
3Strength
If materials are loaded in compression to resist external forces, then strength is improved, but device complexity increases due to buckling resistance requirements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of loading the membrane in compression to resist external forces, the patent inverts the approach by using pre-tensioned tendons to load the membrane in compression through their tension, thereby preventing buckling without requiring the membrane itself to be designed for compression loads
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 tendon-supported membrane pipe design effectively resists ocean currents and external forces, reducing manufacturing and transportation costs while maintaining structural integrity, enabling pipes over 1000 meters in length without the risk of buckling or fracturing.
Implementation Method 1
The tendons, which are arranged lengthwise, are placed in tension, such as by coupling them at both ends to fixtures (e.g., a floating platform at top and a mooring at bottom, etc.). The tension in the tendons enable them to resist membrane forces as well as other external forces
Data Source
AI summary
A pipe comprising a flexible membrane that is disposed over a plurality of spaced-apart tendons is disclosed.