Author(s)

F Pérez Arribas & L Pérez Rojas

Abstract

In the field of civil engineering for ships moorings, the use of big concrete cases is limited due to the size of the construction tools. Due to that, the size of the actual piers or docks built with cases is limited to approximately 20 meters depth. In this paper an alternative to the aforementioned problem is presented. The basis of this alternative consists in turning the prismatic cases so that the length is transformed into depth and depth into length. An example of the turning of a case is presented and a physical and mathematical model for turning the case and how to calculate the trajectory of the case during the turning is described. 1. Introduction In civil technology of ships mooring, the use of big concrete boxes is limited by the forms of construction of these boxes. Although if these are constructed in floating, dry docks or syncrolift platforms, height is the limiting factor and so, the height of the boxes is also limited, that means a reduction in the size of the piers or docks that will be constructed with them. Due to these limitations, mooring docks constructed by concrete boxes do not use to have more than 20 meters of depth. For this reason, ships such as big tankers or some chemical tankers have to discharge far from the shore, in buoys or floating platforms that are not fixed to the seabed. These devices can be affected by severe waves, making discharge possible only in fair weather conditions. For floating platforms fixed to the seabed, construction is possible only if the sea ground is not composed of rock. In this case, the price of fixing the platform is quite expensive.

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