Device for protecting against the scouring of granular fillings submerged in gravity structures

Abstract

A device for protecting against the scouring of granular fillings submerged in gravity structures in which a filling with granular materials must be deposited once the structures are submerged, so that the structures reach a weight sufficient to en sure the stability thereof against the actions to which they are subjected. The device consists of one or more porous covers that sit and/or are secured as an upper closure of the structure to protect the inner filling, each of the covers having a plurality of openings that are distributed on the surface thereof and have a size suitable to allow the passage of the filling material, which filling material is transferred to the inside of the structure simply by pouring until a height close to the cover is reached, leaving a margin or chamber between the two that is suitable for generating an internal turbulence that dissipates wave energy and incident currents, thereby making it difficult for the filling material to escape from the inside through the openings.

Claims

1. A device for protecting against the scouring of granular fillings submerged in gravity structures in which an inner filling material with granular materials must be deposited once the gravity structures are submerged, so that the gravity structures reach a weight sufficient to ensure the stability thereof against the actions to which they are subjected, the device comprising: at least one porous cover or covers that sits and/or is secured as an upper closure of the structure, before or after said structure is installed in the submerged location thereof, protecting the inner filling material, that has a plurality of openings that are distributed along and throughout the surface thereof, which have a suitable size for allowing passage of the inner filling material, which the inner filling material is transferred to the inside of the structure simply by pouring until a height close to the at least one porous cover or covers is reached, leaving a margin or chamber or a gap between the at least one porous cover or covers and the inner filling material that is suitable for generating an internal turbulence that dissipates wave energy and incident currents.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the at least one porous cover or covers have a circular, polygonal or mixed configuration and have a diameter comprised between 0.30 and 2.0 m.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the at least one porous cover or covers have a chamfer on the edges.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are made up of a lattice of beams, which make up a structure able to support the stress created by the inner filling material.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are manufactured from reinforced or post-tensioned concrete.

6. The device according to claim 2, wherein the openings of the at least one porous cover or covers have a chamfer on the edges.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are made up of a lattice of beams, which make up a structure able to support the stress created by the inner filling material.

8. The device according to claim 7, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are manufactured from reinforced or post-tensioned concrete.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are manufactured from reinforced or post-tensioned concrete.

10. The device according to claim 2, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are made up of a lattice of beams, which make up a structure able to support the stress created by the inner filling material.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are manufactured from reinforced or post-tensioned concrete.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are made up of a lattice of beams, which make up a structure able to support the stress created by the inner filling material.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are manufactured from reinforced or post-tensioned concrete.

14. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are manufactured from reinforced or post-tensioned concrete.

15. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are metal.

16. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are manufactured from glass-reinforced plastic (GFRP).

17. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are fastened to the rest of the structure by means of a perimeter connection.

18. The device according to claim 1, wherein the margin or chamber or a gap that must be between the at least one porous cover or covers and the inner filling material is comprised between 0.20 and 1.30 m.

19. The device according to claim 1, wherein the openings of the at least one porous cover or covers have a circular, polygonal or mixed configuration and have a diameter comprised between 0.40 and 1.20 m.

20. The device according to claim 1, wherein the margin or chamber or a gap that must be between the at least one porous cover or covers and the inner filling material is comprised between 0.50 and 1.00 m.

21. The device according to claim 1, wherein cells are the chambers where said device is compartmentalized to be filled with said granular filling.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein a first porous cover of said at least one porous cover or covers is used to cover a first cell of said cells and a second porous cover of said at least one porous cover or covers is used to cover a second cell of said cells.

23. The device according to claim 21, wherein said at least one porous cover or covers are placed over the top of the walls of the cells of said device and said at least one porous cover or covers are connected to said device without a structural connection therebetween.

24. The device according to claim 1, wherein the connection between said device and said at least one porous cover or covers is structurally rigid.

25. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one porous cover or covers are made up of units, which make up a structure able to support the stress created by the inner filling material, and wherein said units include holes which form a grid.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) As a complement to the description provided herein, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, this specification is accompanied by a set of drawings which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following.

(2) FIGS. 1 and 2 show plan views and a detailed cross-section of corresponding covers (1) wherein the shape, number and arrangement of the openings (11) change for lightening and for the filling of the structure (3) to be closed.

(3) FIGS. 3 and 4 show a corresponding plan view and a cross-section view down the middle of a foundation of GBS (Gravity Base Structures), once closed with several porous covers, with different configurations and sizes of hole openings and with the filling (4) up to the final level; as well as a detail of the connection of these covers (1) with the rest of the structure (3).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

(4) As seen in the figures, the device for protecting against the scouring of submerged granular fillings in gravity structures (3), which require the placement of a filling (4) with granular materials, once submerged, so that they reach their own sufficient weight that ensures the stability thereof against the actions to which they are subjected, that adapts in the shapes and dimensions thereof to the configuration of the structure to be covered.

(5) The device in question consists of at least one or several porous covers (1) that sit and/or are secured as an upper closure of the structure (3), before or after said structure is installed in the submerged location thereof, providing protection for the inner filling (4). According to a fundamental characteristic of the invention, these covers (1) have a plurality of openings (11) distributed along and throughout the surface thereof, which have a suitable size for allowing the passage of the filling material (4), which is transferred to the inside of the structure (3) by simple pouring until reaching a height close to the cover (1), such that there is a margin or chamber (5) between the two, wherein an inner turbulence is created that dissipates the energy of the incident waves and currents, hindering the output of the filling material from the inside (4) through the openings (11).

(6) The openings (11) of the cover or covers (1) can have any configuration; generally, they will be circular (FIG. 1) or polygonal (FIG. 2) or mixed solutions, based on the geometry of the element to be protected and in any case will have dimensions comprised between 0.30 and 2.0 m; in a preferred embodiment the diameter of the openings (1) is comprised between 0.40 and 1.20 m and in general the size thereof will be fixed based on the size of the filling material to be protected, the ratio of the larger size of the units of the filling (4) and the main dimension of the openings (11) being between and , based on the severity of the waves and the currents that it must handle.

(7) In FIG. 3 several models of covers (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) are shown based on the shape of the hole existing in the structure (3) to be covered and the number, arrangement and shape of the openings (11) existing therein.

(8) As shown in the figures, the openings (11) of the cover or covers (1) have a chamfer (13) in the edges, which have the object of improving the hydrodynamic behaviour, by reducing stresses due to waves and currents, and preventing the presence of edges that could be damaged during the filling process.

(9) In a preferred embodiment, the cover or covers (1) are manufactured from reinforced or post-tensioned concrete and are made up of a lattice of beams (12) that make up a structure able to support the stress created by the filling. Nevertheless, these covers (1) can also be metal or be manufactured from glass-reinforced plastic (GFRP).

(10) In the detail marked in FIG. 4, a perimeter connection (2) that connects the cover or covers (1) to the rest of the structure (3) is shown. Particularly when the covers (1) are manufactured from concrete, this joint will be made of the same material, placed after the cover (1) in the final location thereof on the structure (3).

(11) Tests were performed on a physical model and it was concluded that the margin or chamber (5) that is remain between the cover or covers (1) and the filling material (4) must be comprised between 0.20 and 1.30 m, preferably between 0.50 and 1.00 m, so that turbulence is created that is able to dissipate the energy of the incident waves and currents, hindering the output of the filling material from the inside through the openings (11).

(12) With this type of covers (1) the need for breakwaters or other types of protections for the inner filling (4) is prevented, only requiring a filter-type material placed on top that meets a certain ratio between the maximum size and the main dimension of the opening.

(13) This device is an ideal solution to be applied to those structures (3) that are installed by means of towing and anchoring, taking advantage of the flotation capacity thereof, since the weight of the porous covers is limited and does not hinder the buoyancy of the of the structure. The modularity of the design of the covers suitable for positioning in a structure enables them to be manufactured separately therefrom and placed in position before or after the anchoring.

(14) Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, in addition to an example of preferred embodiment, it is hereby stated for the relevant purposes that the materials, shape, size and layout of the described elements may be modified, provided that it does not imply altering the essential characteristics of the invention claimed below: