WO2014037824A1

WO2014037824A1 - Gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure

Info

Publication number: WO2014037824A1
Application number: PCT/IB2013/053971
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rauf Zabolonkov
Original assignee: Uab "Hidrosfera"
Priority date: 2012-09-05
Filing date: 2013-05-15
Publication date: 2014-03-13
Also published as: LT6027B; LT2012083A

Abstract

This invention aims to create a generally new gravity -based elevated hydro-technical structure, designed for receiving the mooring vessels, with the aim to increase stability and reliability of the construction, as well as to ensure simple mounting works. According to this invention, gravity -based elevated hydro-technical structure consists not only of piles but also of large diameter steel shell structures, mounted on the bottom of the water area. These steel shell structures function as shock-absorbers and do not let water to the piles, while the cavity inside these shell structures is filled with sand (soil). The steel shell structures have piles hammered inside, which are interconnected with a reinforced concrete grillage, on top of which longitudinal and transverse beams are mounted. A reinforced concrete superstructure / trestle is mounted on the longitudinal and transverse beams. The reinforced concrete superstructure connected with steel shell structures and grillage forms a firm gravity-based construction, on top of which mooring bollards and stops are mounted. Practically all constructive elements of this hydro- technical structure can be assembled and mounted on the shore; the assembling works are simple and low-cost.

Description

GRAVITY-BASED ELEVATED HYDRO-TECHNICAL STRUCTURE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of wharf, bridge and harbour constructions. More particularly, the invention relates to the hydro-technical structures, which are designed for receiving the mooring vessels.

Background Art

Typically, the hydro-technical structures, which are designed for receiving the mooring vessels, are to have the following characteristics: high resistance to horizontal loads, caused by mooring vessels and waves (surge), as well as high resistance to vertical loads, caused by mechanisms and everything, which is constructed, integrated or put on the trestle (superstructure made of reinforced concrete). While analyzing the long history of the hydro-technical structures, it becomes clear that the main factor determining the deterioration of the hydro-technical structures is sea / ocean waves, which (slightly or more intensively) are constantly negatively influencing the above mentioned hydro-technical structures and over time damage them.

There are many diverse supports, protective constructions, entrenchments and stabilizing mechanisms patented in the world, which in one way or another address the issues of stability and reliability of the mentioned hydro-technical structures. However, surge, especially during storms, is a very serious challenge and it is likely that this field will stay open for innovations and implementation of novelties for a very long time .

There is a known English patent No. GB391366, published on April 27, 1933. This patent analyzes the construction of a hydro-technical structure, which, in comparison with other conventional structures, ensures more stable and more reliable wharf construction with bigger amount (quantity) of piles on which the trestle is held. When constructing the pile rows (pile row is arranged vertically in respect of the wave moving direction), the distance between the piles is gradually reduced (the closer the pile row to the shore, the shorter the distance between the piles): by doing this, surge is gradually suppressed and, due to a big amount of piles, the load to each pile separately is reduced and the load to the whole construction in general is reduced. Nevertheless, the construction is very cumbersome and solves the problem in accordance with a simple principle: bigger amount of piles is needed for higher level of safety.

There is one known Chinese patent No. CN1435540, published on August 13, 2003. This patent analyzes a hydro-technical structure, the foundation of which consists of a rectangular form / support, filled with concrete or other constructive material, of a relatively large area (in comparison with a pile, the diameter of which is considerably smaller than the area of the trestle). On top of this form / support a trestle is built / mounted (the area of the trestle is compared / similar to the area of the mentioned filled form / support). Exceptional characteristic of this patent is that close to the lower part of the mentioned filled form / support there is a casted and integrally attached (to the above mentioned support) trapezium-shaped platform, which does not allow the waves to dash with full force into the above mentioned support. However, this construction has a few drawbacks: first, a lot of constructive materials are needed to form and cast the above mentioned support; second, large area constructions that seem to be extremely strong, are very vulnerable to even medium (according to strength) plane waves (therefore, the above mentioned trapezium-shaped platform is more a necessity and inevitable self-evident decision than an improvement).

There is a known English patent No. GB395534, published on July 20, 1933. This patent analyzes a support of a quay wall type, which protects the shore from the erosive effect of the (transverse) waves. This support consists of cyclically arranged pillars, which are interconnected by using slabs. Exceptional characteristic of this invention is that the construction of the above mentioned pillars consists of different shape blocks, which reduce the wave impact. However, this construction is intended to protect the shore from the adverse wave impact but it is not fully adjusted to create / implement hydro-technical structures. Using the construction defined by this patent in the structure (architecture) of the hydro-technical structures would be too expensive (because it requires a lot of building materials) and too complicated (because it is too cumbersome). Moreover, mounting works would be very problematic.

There is also a known American patent No. US3479824, published on November 25, 1969. This patent presents slabs / panels with rectangular holes. These slabs can be situated under water and fixed on the special supports to the sea-bed, so that, in case of stronger waves, they could slightly move / plunge with the movement of water / waves. This type of slabs let the water go through and yet suppress stronger waves. However, this wave suppression construction or system consisting of these constructions cannot be used in the wharfs, where, due to the movement of vessels, alike underwater constructions are inappropriate.

The most similar according to the prior art is an American patent No. US1204946, published on November 14, 2011. This patent presents a trestle, which is held on the piles interconnected by 'X' shape linkages . The essence of this patent is that the piles of the trestle are reinforced by linkages . However, this reinforcement is not radical, it only partially strengthens all construction. Moreover, there are a lot of linkages that in time are to be maintained / repaired.

There is a generally new type of gravity-based elevated construction presented below, which does not struggle with the waves directly (because it is too difficult and pointless to struggle with the waves directly), however, it radically, effectively and, at the same time, simply solves the problems of stability and reliability of the wharf.

Technical Problem

Technical Solution

The purpose of this invention is to create a generally new construction of a hydro-technical structure, which would considerably increase the strength, reliability and stability of the trestle as well as would require simple mounting / constructive works.

The essence of the present invention is a gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure, intended to withstand the following:

horizontal loads of mooring ships with a trestle on a pile

foundation and

vertical loads of mechanisms, designed, integrated or put on a trestle.

According to this invention, gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure consists of a large diameter steel shell structures, mounted on the bottom of the water area at a certain ( recurring ) distance from one another , inside of which there are steel piles with a trestle mounted on top. These piles ensure guaranteed load-bearing capacity, there is a reinforced concrete grillage mounted on top, on which longitudinal and transverse beams are installed. On top of the longitudinal and transverse beams a reinforced concrete superstructure, which is called a trestle, is mounted. Steel shell structures are filled with good quality sand. The reinforced concrete superstructure connected to the steel shell structures and the grillage form a firm gravity-based construction with mooring bollards and stops mounted on top.

In comparison with the existing hydro-technical structures, this gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure has the following characteristics / advantages:

under unfavourable geological conditions, less piles are needed to mount the trestle construction having the same level of reliability;

load- bearing capacity of each pile increases considerably, because each pile is hammered into the sand inside the steel shell construction;

gravity-based part of the structure practically does not accept vertical loads, which increases its stability and economy;

technological equipment having higher lifting capacity can be mounted on the longitudinal and transverse beams;

the measurements of the grillage are considerably smaller comparing to the measurements of 'sheer trestle' superstructure;

practically, all constructive elements of the hydro-technical structure can be assembled and mounted on the shore; mounting of these elements saves time and reduces construction costs.

Advantageous Effects

Description of Drawings

FIG.1 shows the general construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure of the present invention.

FIG.2 shows a sectional top view of the construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure of the present invention.

FIG.3 shows a sectional side view of the construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure of the present invention.

Best Mode

Presently in the world, foundation of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical constructions of the wharfs is normally made of piles, on top of which the whole trestle construction is mounted. However, the week point of the mentioned construction is piles, because they are especially exposed to various impacts: horizontal loads of the mooring vessels, vertical loads of the cargos, equipment and mechanisms, as well as constant erosive impact of the waves and undercurrents.

The present invention is intended to develop a construction of the gravity-based elevated ( with pile foundation ) hydro-technical structure, designed for receiving the mooring vessels, with the aim to increase stability and reliability of the construction, as well as to ensure simple mounting works.

Erosive impact of waves and undercurrents is known for a very long time: with time water destroys everything. Strong surge damages all vessels and all shoreline constructions. Generally new type of gravity-based elevated construction is described and presented below, which does not struggle with the waves directly (because it is too difficult and pointless to struggle with the waves directly), however, it radically, effectively and, at the same time, simply solves the problems of stability and reliability of the wharf.

FIG.1 shows an overall construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure (1) of the present invention, consisting of the following main constructive elements: piles (2), reinforced concrete grillage (3), longitudinal and transverse beams (4: 4a and 4b), reinforced concrete superstructure / trestle (5), mooring bollard (6), stops (7), steel shell structures (8) and soil / sand (9).

The idea of this invention is to protect the above mentioned piles (2) from the waves and undercurrents, the pressure of the vessels and the impact of the ice, i.e. from the external effects. To reach this goal, the gravity-based part of the construction consists of steel shell structures of a large diameter (8), mounted on the bottom of the water area (10) at a certain distance from one another and filled with sand / soil as presented in FIG. 1. These hollow steel shell structures (8), fixed on the bottom of the water area (10), protect the piles (2) from the wave impact. Every steel shell structure (8) has relatively thin ring (11) made of reinforced concrete and a cavity, filled with soil or sand (9). The optimal diameter of the mentioned steel shell structure (8) is 8-20 m, however, different measurements are also possible. Whereas the mentioned shell structures (8) are round, they are resistant to transverse waves of various directions . Moreover, they are very hard and, at the same time, low-cost, because the outer casing is strengthened by the reinforced concrete ring (11), while the inside is filled with sand / soil (9). Whereas these shell structures (8) have a considerably large diameter (8), they are resistant even to strong direct impacts. Furthermore, direct impact to the shell structures is not transferred to the piles (2). FIG.2 presents a sectional top view of the construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure, while FIG.3 presents a sectional side view of the construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure.

Every steel shell structure (8) has piles (2) mounted inside, which on top are interconnected by reinforced concrete grillage (3). These reinforced concrete grillages (3) function as a foundation of the trestle: on top of them, longitudinal (4a) and transverse (4b) beams (4) are mounted, which connect the adjacent steel shell constructions (8). On top of the longitudinal and transverse beams (4), reinforced concrete coating is formed and reinforced concrete superstructure / trestle (5) is built, on top of which mooring bollards (6) and stops (7) are mounted.

If needed, geometry of the above mentioned steel shell strutures (8) can be not only round but also have irregular shape (for example, specially adjusted to a certain relief of the wharf, direction of the movement of the waves and etc.).

The trestle (5) of this hydro-technical structure (1) can withstand very heavy service loads. By using the mentioned steel shell structures (8) and ensuring a sufficient level of reliability of the trestle (5), it is possible to use smaller amount of piles (2).

This invention is also unique for having a gravity-based structure, which does not accept vertical loads, and that considerably increases its stability and economy. Moreover, the load- bearing capacity of every separate pile (2) significantly increases, for it is hammered into the sand (9) inside the steel shell structure (8).

Technological equipment having higher lifting capacity can be mounted on the longitudinal and transverse beams (4) of the structure (1), because the whole construction (1), in comparison with currently used constructions, is considerably stronger (the trestle can hold approximately 30% bigger weight) and more reliable (the level of reliability increases approximately two times).

Furthermore, this construction is easy to assemble and mount on the shore, i.e. the invention ensures not only higher level of reability of the hydro-technical structure, but also simple and low-cost assembling / installation works.

With the aim to illustrate and describe this invention, a description of the preferred embodiments is presented above. It is not a comprehensive or restrictive invention, which aims to determine a precise shape or embodiment. The description presented above is to be seen as an illustration and not as a restriction. It is clear, that specialists in this field may face a variety of modifications and variations. The preferred embodiments are chosen and described to analyze the construction of this invention better and find its best practical application, intended for different embodiments with different modifications, which are suitable for specific application or implementation, because the quantitative parameters of this invention might vary in accordance with a specific construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure. The scope of the invention is defined by the attached claims and their equivalents, where all the mentioned terms are described in their broadest sense, unless otherwise specified. It has to be acknowledged that the claims, described by the specialists in this field, might have modifications, which do not deviate from the scope of this invention.

Mode for Invention

Industrial Applicability

Sequence List Text

Claims

1. Construction of the gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure, consisting of:

piles, reinforced concrete grillage, longitudinal and transverse beams, trestle, mooring bollards and stops,

characterized in that the gravity-based part of the construction consists of large diameter steel shell structures (8), mounted on the bottom of the water area (10) at a certain distance from one another and filled with soil / sand (9), which protects the piles (2) from the external impact;

where:

every round steel shell structure (8) has reinforced concrete ring (11) with a cavity, filled with soil or sand (9);

every steel shell structure (8) has piles (2) hammered inside, which are interconnected by reinforced concrete grillages (3);

reinforced concrete grillages (8) function as a foundation of the trestle: longitudinal (4a) and transverse (4b) beams (4) are mounted on top of them, which interconnect adjacent steel shell structures (8);

reinforced concrete coating is formed on the longitudinal and transverse beams (4) and a reinforced concrete superstructure / trestle is build (5), on top of which mooring bollards (6), stops (7) and other equipment is mounted.

2. Construction of a gravity-based elevated hydro-technical structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the steel shell structure (8) is irregular (i. e. specially adjusted to the wharf relief, wave movement direction and etc.).