Structural pillars are often used as underwater support features for over water bridges and other transportation structures. Often, at least a portion of the underwater support feature comprises cement, or another similar material. There is great expense when deploying cement in underwater applications. One significant expense relates to the pumping equipment used to deploy the un-cured cement to its underwater location. Another expense relates to the cofferdams or other containment equipment and methods required to properly cure the un-cured cement in underwater applications. These expenses, among others, greatly increase the cost associated with the deployment and use of underwater structural pillars.
Reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the drawings and descriptions that follow, like parts are typically marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals, respectively. The drawn figures are not necessarily to scale. Certain features of the disclosure may be shown exaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form and some details of certain elements may not be shown in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The present disclosure may be implemented in embodiments of different forms.
Specific embodiments are described in detail and are shown in the drawings, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that illustrated and described herein. It is to be fully recognized that the different teachings of the embodiments discussed herein may be employed separately or in any suitable combination to produce desired results.
Unless otherwise specified, use of the terms “connect,” “engage,” “couple,” “attach,” or any other like term describing an interaction between elements is not meant to limit the interaction to direct interaction between the elements and may also include indirect interaction between the elements described.
The present disclosure aims to reduce the time and simplify the construction of in ground support structures, including without limitation support structures that are deployed within a body of reactive fluid, such as fresh water or salt water. In at least one embodiment, the principles of the present disclosure are particularly useful in reducing the time and simplifying the construction of over water bridges, such as sea bridges. The present disclosure, in at least one embodiment, employs expandable metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis as a least a portion of one or more structural pillars of the support structure. Accordingly, the expandable metal may eliminate the aforementioned expenses associated with the pumping of the un-cured cement, as well as the expenses associated with the use of the cofferdams.
The term expandable metal, as used herein, refers to the expandable metal in a pre-expansion form (e.g., metal that has yet to expand in response to hydrolysis). Similarly, the term expanded metal, as used herein, refers to the resulting expanded metal after the expandable metal has been subjected to reactive fluid, as discussed below. The expanded metal, in accordance with one or more aspects of the disclosure, comprises a metal that has expanded in response to hydrolysis. In certain embodiments, the expanded metal includes residual unreacted metal. For example, in certain embodiments the expanded metal is intentionally designed to include the residual unreacted metal. The residual unreacted metal has the benefit of allowing the expanded metal to self-heal if cracks or other anomalies subsequently arise, for example is shifting of the soil were to occur. Nevertheless, other embodiments may exist wherein no residual unreacted metal exists in the expanded metal.
The expandable metal, in some embodiments, may be described as expanding to a cement like material. In other words, the expandable metal goes from metal to micron-scale particles and then these particles expand and lock together to, in essence, form a portion of the structural pillars. The reaction may, in certain embodiments, occur in less than 90 days in a reactive fluid, such as fresh water or salt water. In certain other embodiments, the reaction occurs in less than 30 days in a reactive fluid. Nevertheless, the time of reaction may vary depending on the reactive fluid, the expandable metal used, the temperature of the reactive fluid, and whether an external heat source or voltage source is applied to the expandable metal.
In some embodiments, the reactive fluid may be fresh water, such as may be found in an inshore lake. In other embodiments, the reactive fluid may be salt water, such as may be found in a sea or ocean. In other embodiments, the reactive fluid may be a combination of fresh water and salt water (e.g., brackish water), or may comprise any other known or hereafter discovered reactive fluid. The expandable metal is electrically conductive in certain embodiments. The expandable metal may be machined to any specific size/shape, extruded, formed, cast or other conventional ways to get the desired shape of a metal, as will be discussed in greater detail below. The expandable metal, in certain embodiments has a yield strength greater than about 8,000 psi, e.g., 8,000 psi+/−50%.
The hydrolysis of the expandable metal can create a metal hydroxide. The formative properties of alkaline earth metals (Mg—Magnesium, Ca—Calcium, etc.) and transition metals (Zn—Zinc, Al—Aluminum, etc.) under hydrolysis reactions demonstrate structural characteristics that are favorable for use with the present disclosure. Hydration results in an increase in size from the hydration reaction and results in a metal hydroxide that can precipitate from the fluid.
The hydration reactions for magnesium is:
Mg+2H2O→Mg(OH)2+H2,
where Mg(OH)2 is also known as brucite. Another hydration reaction uses aluminum hydrolysis. The reaction forms a material known as Gibbsite, bayerite, and norstrandite, depending on form. The hydration reaction for aluminum is:
Al+3H2O→Al(OH)3+3/2 H2.
Another hydration reaction uses calcium hydrolysis. The hydration reaction for calcium is:
Ca+2H2O→Ca(OH)2+H2,
Where Ca(OH)2 is known as portlandite and is a common hydrolysis product of Portland cement. Magnesium hydroxide and calcium hydroxide are considered to be relatively insoluble in water. Aluminum hydroxide can be considered an amphoteric hydroxide, which has solubility in strong acids or in strong bases. Alkaline earth metals (e.g., Mg, CA, etc.) work well for the expandable metal, but transition metals (Al, etc.) also work well for the expandable metal. In one embodiment, the metal hydroxide is dehydrated by the swell pressure to form a metal oxide.
In an embodiment, the expandable metal used can be a metal alloy. The expandable metal alloy can be an alloy of the base expandable metal with other elements in order to either adjust the strength of the expandable metal alloy, to adjust the reaction time of the expandable metal alloy, or to adjust the strength of the resulting metal hydroxide byproduct, among other adjustments. The expandable metal alloy can be alloyed with elements that enhance the strength of the metal such as, but not limited to, Al—Aluminum, Zn—Zinc, Mn—Manganese, Zr—Zirconium, Y—Yttrium, Nd—Neodymium, Gd—Gadolinium, Ag—Silver, Ca—Calcium, Sn—Tin, and Re—Rhenium, Cu—Copper. In some embodiments, the expandable metal alloy can be alloyed with a dopant that promotes corrosion, such as Ni—Nickel, Fe—Iron, Cu—Copper, Co—Cobalt, Ir—Iridium, Au—Gold, C—Carbon, Ga—Gallium, In—Indium, Mg—Mercury, Bi—Bismuth, Sn—Tin, and Pd—Palladium. The expandable metal alloy can be constructed in a solid solution process where the elements are combined with molten metal or metal alloy. Alternatively, the expandable metal alloy could be constructed with a powder metallurgy process. The expandable metal can be cast, forged, extruded, sintered, welded, mill machined, lathe machined, stamped, eroded or a combination thereof.
Optionally, non-expanding components may be added to the starting metallic materials. For example, ceramic, elastomer, plastic, epoxy, glass, fibers, or non-reacting metal components can be embedded in the expandable metal or coated on the surface of the expandable metal. Alternatively, the starting expandable metal may be the metal oxide. For example, calcium oxide (CaO) with water will produce calcium hydroxide in an energetic reaction. Due to the higher density of calcium oxide, this can have a 260% volumetric expansion (e.g., converting 1 mole of CaO may cause the volume to increase from 9.5 cc to 34.4 cc). In one variation, the expandable metal is formed in a serpentinite reaction, a hydration and metamorphic reaction. In one variation, the resultant material resembles a mafic material. Additional ions can be added to the reaction, including silicate, sulfate, aluminate, carbonate, and phosphate. The metal can be alloyed to increase the reactivity or to control the formation of oxides.
The expandable metal can be configured in many different fashions, as long as an adequate volume of material is available for fully expanding. For example, the expandable metal may be formed into a single long member, multiple short members, and rings, among others. In certain other embodiments, the expandable metal is a collection of individual separate chunks of the metal held together with a binding agent. In yet other embodiments, the expandable metal is a collection of individual separate chunks of the metal that are not held together with a binding agent, but held together with a tubular or screen member. Additionally, a delay coating may be applied to one or more portions of the expandable metal to delay the expanding reactions.
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The support structure 100, in one aspect, includes one or more expanded metal structural pillars 110 positioned within the ground. In the embodiment of
Each of the expanded metal structural pillars 110, in accordance with the disclosure, may comprise a metal that has expanded in response to hydrolysis. In certain embodiments, an entirety of the expanded metal structural pillars 110 comprise the metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, as discussed above. In yet other embodiments, only a portion of the expanded metal structural pillars 110 comprise the metal that has expanded in response to hydrolysis.
The expanded metal structural pillars 110 illustrated in the embodiment of
In at least one embodiment, the first pier portions 120 comprise the metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, while the second column portions 125 do not comprise a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis. In yet other embodiments, the first pier portions 120 do not comprise a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis, while the second column portion 125 do comprise a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis. In yet other embodiments, at least a portion of each of the first pier portions 120 and the second column portions 125 comprise the metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis.
The expandable metal structural pillars, in one or more embodiments, have a volume of at least 0.2 m3. The expandable metal structural pillars, in one or more alternative embodiments, have a volume of at least 1 m3. The expandable metal structural pillars, in yet one or more other embodiments, have a volume of at least 5 m3. The resulting expanded metal structural pillars 110, in one or more embodiments, have a volume of at least 0.36 m3. The expanded metal structural pillars 110, in one or more alternative embodiments, have a volume of at least 1.8 m3. The expanded metal structural pillars 110, in yet one or more other embodiments, have a volume of at least 9 m3. Nevertheless, the volume of the expandable metal structural pillars and resulting expanded metal structural pillars 110 may vary greatly and remain within the scope of the disclosure.
In one or more embodiments, headstocks 130 may be coupled to upper ends of the column portions 125. For example, in the embodiment of
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The one or more expandable metal structural pillars 205 may be positioned in the ground using a variety of different methods. In one embodiment, one or more holes are dug or drilled within the ground, and then the one or more expandable metal structural pillars 205 are positioned within the holes. In another embodiment, the one or more expandable metal structural pillars 205 are pressed or driven within the ground. In yet another embodiment, the one or more expandable metal structural pillars 205 include a fluid passageway extending there through, and fluid (e.g., high pressure fluid) is supplied through the fluid passageways while the expandable metal structural pillars 205 are being pressed into the ground. In this embodiment, the fluid forms an opening in the ground for the expandable metal structural pillars 205, and thus helps the process of pressing the expandable metal structural pillars 205 within the ground.
The distance (d1) may vary greatly and remain within the scope of the disclosure. For instance, the distance (d1) may vary greatly based upon soil type, the intended weight of the support structure 200, the weight of the intended contents passing over the support structure 200, and the life expectancy of the support structure 200, among other factors. In at least one embodiment, the distance (d1) is at least 3 meters. In another embodiment, the distance (d1) is as least 10 meters. In yet another embodiment, the distance (d1) is at least 15 meters, at least 20 meters, or even at least 25 meters or more. Nevertheless, the present disclosure is not limited to any specific distance (d1).
The one or more expandable metal structural pillars 205 are illustrated in
In a second step, the one or more expandable metal structural pillars 205 are allowed to be exposed to reactive fluid, in this embodiment water (e.g., salt water). What results are one or more expanded metal structural pillars 210 located at least partially within the ground. Again, in the embodiment of
In a third step, one or more reinforcement structures 222 may be positioned on the first pier portions 220 of the expanded metal structural pillars 210. The one or more reinforcement structures 222, in one or more embodiments, are one or more cylindrical reinforcement cages. The cylindrical reinforcement cages may comprise steel, among other reinforcement materials.
In a fourth step, one or more tubulars 223 may be positioned around the one or more reinforcement structures 222. The one or more tubulars 223 may again comprise many different materials and remain within the scope of the disclosure. In the embodiment shown, however, the one or more tubulars 223 comprise steel. The one or more tubulars 223, in the disclosed embodiment, isolate the interior of the one or more tubulars from the surrounding water, as well as provide a mold for un-cured concrete to be poured.
In a fifth step, un-cured concrete 224 may be poured within opening in the tubulars 223. In one embodiment, the water may be pumped from the openings in the tubulars 223 prior to pouring the un-cured concrete 224. In yet another embodiment, the un-cured concrete 224 is poured within the one or more tubulars 223, which in turn displaces the water. Accordingly, it is not always necessary to pump the water from the opening in the tubulars 223 prior to pouring the un-cured concrete 224. What results, after curing, are a plurality of expanded metal structural pillars 210.
In a sixth step, one or more headstocks 230 may be delivered to site and installed on top of each of the one or more expanded metal structural pillars 210. The one or more headstocks 230, in at least one embodiment, are pre-cast headstocks. The one or more headstocks 230, in the illustrated embodiment, are coupled to an upper end of the column portions 225. The one or more headstocks 230, in at least one embodiment, support the support structure 200 spans and transfer the support structure 220 load to the expanded metal structural pillars 210 there below.
In a seventh step, one or more beams 240 may be placed along and spanning the one or more headstocks 230. The one or more beams 240 may comprise a variety of different structures and remain within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, in at least one embodiment, the beams 240 may be one or more large conduits (e.g., fluid conduits) spanning the one or more headstocks 230. In another embodiment, the one or more beams 240 may be a base for a transportation path, such as a road for automobiles (e.g., motorcycles, cars, trucks, semis, etc.) or train tracks for a train, etc. The support structure 200 may additionally include signaling, communications, and power, as shown with feature 250.
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Aspects disclosed herein include:
A. A support structure, the support structure including: 1) first and second expanded metal structural pillars positioned within the ground by a distance (d1), the first and second expanded metal structural pillars comprising a metal that has expanded in response to hydrolysis; and 2) one or more beams spanning the first and second expanded metal structural pillars.
B. A method for forming a support structure, the method including: 1) placing first and second expandable metal structural pillars into ground by a distance (d1), the first and second expandable metal structural pillars offset from one another, wherein at least a portion of the first and second expandable metal structural pillars comprises a metal configured to expand in response to hydrolysis; and 2) allowing the first and second expandable structural pillar to be exposed to reactive fluid to form first and second expanded metal structural pillars located at least partially within the ground.
Aspects A, B, and C may have one or more of the following additional elements in combination: Element 1: wherein each of the first and second expanded metal structural pillars includes a first pier portion located within the ground by the distance (d1), and a second column portion extending over the ground by a distance (d2). Element 2: wherein the second column portion of each of the first and second expanded metal structural pillars is located at least partially within a body of water. Element 3: further including an adapter plate positioned between at least one first pier portion and at least one second column portion, the adapter plate configured to keep the at least one first pier portion and the at least one second column portion aligned. Element 4: further including a first headstock coupled to an upper end of the first column portion, and a second headstock coupled to an upper end of the second column portion, the one or more beams coupled to the first and second headstocks and spanning the first and second expanded metal structural pillars. Element 5: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars include one or more metal reinforcement members positioned therein. Element 6: wherein the one or more metal reinforcement members are one or more reinforcement rods extend along a length (l) thereof. Element 7: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars include non-expanding strengthening particulates randomly dispersed therein. Element 8: wherein the non-expanding strengthening particulates include pieces of steel, pieces of composite or fibers. Element 9: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are first and second expanded metal tubulars having concrete located in a hollow portion thereof. Element 10: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are first and second concrete tubulars having expanded metal columns in a hollow portion thereof. Element 11: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are first and second steel or composite tubulars that are not configured to expand in response to hydrolysis having expanded metal columns in a hollow portion thereof. Element 12: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are in direct contact with the ground. Element 13: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars include residual unreacted metal configured to expand in response to the hydrolysis. Element 14: wherein placing first and second expandable metal structural pillars into the ground by a distance (d1), includes placing first and second expandable metal structural pillars into a body of the reactive fluid and into the ground by a distance (d1). Element 15: wherein the body of the reactive fluid is a body of salt water. Element 16: wherein each of the first and second expandable metal structural pillars includes a first pier portion located within the ground by the distance (d1), and a second column portion extending over the ground by a distance (d2). Element 17: further including spanning the first and second expanded metal structural pillars with one or more beams. Element 18: further including coupling a first headstock to an upper end of the first column portion, and coupling a second headstock to an upper end of the second column portion, the one or more beams coupled to the first and second headstocks and spanning the first and second expanded metal structural pillars. Element 19: further including positioning an adapter plate between at least one first pier portion and at least one second column portion, the adapter plate configured to keep the at least one first pier portion and the at least one second column portion aligned. Element 20: wherein placing a first expandable metal structural pillar into ground by a distance (d1) includes supplying fluid through a fluid passageway in the first expandable metal structural pillar while it is being pressed into the ground, the fluid forming an opening in the ground for the first expandable metal structural pillar. Element 21: wherein the first and second expandable metal structural pillars include one or more metal reinforcement members positioned therein. Element 22: wherein the one or more metal reinforcement members are one or more reinforcement rods extend along a length (l) thereof. Element 23: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars include non-expanding strengthening particulates randomly dispersed therein. Element 24: wherein the non-expanding strengthening particulates include pieces of steel, pieces of composite or fibers. Element 25: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are first and second expanded metal tubulars having concrete located in a hollow portion thereof. Element 26: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are first and second concrete tubulars having expanded metal columns in a hollow portion thereof. Element 27: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are first and second steel or composite tubulars that are not configured to expand in response to hydrolysis having expanded metal columns in a hollow portion thereof. Element 28: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars are in direct contact with the ground. Element 29: wherein the first and second expanded metal structural pillars include residual unreacted metal configured to expand in response to the hydrolysis.
Those skilled in the art to which this application relates will appreciate that other and further additions, deletions, substitutions, and modifications may be made to the described embodiments.
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