Future dredging tools made from 'new' materials
Type:
Presented during:
CEDA Dredging Days 2009 - Dredging Tools for the Future, Rotterdam
Authors:
Bugdayci HH, Smeets F and Van Opstal TA - IHC Parts & services, The Netherlands
Abstract: In the late 1960s the development of fiber composites has been spurred by the space - and aircraft industries. Because of its unique characteristics this material has also found its way in other industries since then; e.g. wind turbines, high performance sports goods and yachting.
Fiber composites are materials where a fiber is embedded in a matrix material. Depending on the requirements specific fibers, usually carbon or glass can be chosen and orientated according the loads. Using these possibilities much lighter constructions can be accomplished than in steel while maintaining the same functionality or even adding improvements in the functionality.
In the dredging industry fiber composites are not widely used yet. On a couple of vessels fiber composite jet piping has been used but other than that most dredging equipment on dredging vessels is still made of steel. This could change soon; some recent studies on fiber composite and other plastics applications on dredging equipment show there are major advantages to be gained. Some of these include the reduction of weight, increasing the productivity and added functionality.
Recently at IHC Merwede some dredging equipment has been designed in fiber composites. For instance a telescopically extendable suction tube has been designed from scratch and a new design has been made for the outer casing of a double walled dredge pump also in fiber composite. Use of these new materials created new possibilities not possible in steel.
This paper describes these designs and some other studies showing the possibilities of fiber composite and other plastics application in the dredging industry.
Keywords: composites, fiber reinforced, carbon fiber, glass fiber, plastic, dredge pump, double-walled dredge pump