Lesson plan

Splash zone

In offshore construction, the splash zone is the transition from air to water when lowering heavy burdens into the sea. The overall efforts applied on the crane change dramatically when the load starts touching water, up to the point where it is completely submerged. Its buoyancy reduces the static mass that the crane has to support, but contact with the waves creates widely fluctuating dynamic forces. Simulation of these changing efforts are necessary to correctly dimension cranes and lifting equipment. See for example DNV-RP-H103 (Det Norske Veritas recommended practices) for a mention of the piston effect created in the splash zone between two walls. Special made Access Tools are often made for doing inspections or maintenance in the splash zone, typical down to 15 m depth. This zone is very difficult to access for divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROV's) due to waves and current. Rigging of equipment in this zone also needs special precautions due to the same. By using Remotely Operated Equipment (Robots) that holds on to the structures, work and inspections can be done. Earlier this Zone was looked at as unaccessible.

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Article summary

In offshore construction, the splash zone is the transition from air to water when lowering heavy burdens into the sea. The overall efforts applied on the crane change dramatically when the load starts touching water, up to the point where it is completely submerged. Its buoyancy reduces the static mass that the crane has to support, but contact with the waves creates widely fluctuating dynamic forces. Simulation of these changing efforts are necessary to correctly dimension cranes and lifting equipment. See for example DNV-RP-H103 (Det Norske Veritas recommended practices) for a mention of the piston effect created in the splash zone between two walls. Special made Access Tools are often made for doing inspections or maintenance in the splash zone, typical down to 15 m depth. This zone is very difficult to access for divers or remotely operated vehicles (ROV's) due to waves and current. Rigging of equipment in this zone also needs special precautions due to the same. By using Remotely Operated Equipment (Robots) that holds on to the structures, work and inspections can be done. Earlier this Zone was looked at as unaccessible.

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  1. Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
  2. Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
  3. If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?

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