Scale laws for spillage in cutterheads in dredging

Conference paper (2019)

Authors

S.A. Miedema Offshore and Dredging Engineering - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
C. van Rhee Offshore and Dredging Engineering - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
B.J. Nieuwboer Offshore and Dredging Engineering - Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Research Group
Offshore and Dredging Engineering (Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering) (TU Delft)
Sand Dredging Rock Gravel Spillage Cutterhead
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Published Date

2019

Language

English

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Faculty

Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering

Department

Marine and Transport Technology

Research Group

Offshore and Dredging Engineering

Abstract

In dredging soil is excavated with dredging equipment. One of the main types of equipment is the cutter suction dredge (CSD). The CSD consists of a floating pontoon, with in the back a spud pole penetrating the soil. In the front there is a ladder, which can rotate around a horizontal bearing. By means of this rotation the cutter head, mounted at the end of the ladder, can be positioned in the bank. Also, at the end of the ladder two swing wires are connected (port and starboard wires) enabling the CSD to rotate around the spud pole and thus letting the cutter head make a circular movement through the bank. During this rotation, with a circumferential swing velocity vs at the centre of the cutter head, the cutter head (also rotating around its axis with a certain rpm) is excavating the soil. The theoretical soil production Qc equals the cross section of the cutter head in the bank cutting, perpendicular to the swing velocity vs times the swing velocity vs. The cutter head consists of the cutter axis connected to the hub, 5 or 6 arms on one side connected to the hub and on the other side connected to the ring and a suction pipe to catch the soil cut and transport the soil to its destination.
The difference between the theoretical production and the real production is the spillage. So, this is
the percentage of the theoretical production not entering the suction pipe.