Energy absorption management for marine barrier and gate systems

摘要

A marine barrier has buoyant panels elastically connected with an included angle therebetween, to form a pleated row of panels with hinges arranged in first and second rows. An impact net having cables is attached to a net connection portion of each hinge in the first row. The net connection portions are attachable to the cables with a tension such that, when the barrier is floating and a moving vessel impacts the net, an impact force causes the cables to move relative to the net connection portions, transferring a portion of the force of the impact to the net connection portions, until cable stops on the cable ends engage net connection portions adjacent the cable stops. The force of the impact is then transferred to the panels, which engage the water to transfer the force of the impact to the water, to arrest the motion of the vessel.

主权项

1. A marine barrier comprising:
a first plurality of substantially vertical panels, each of the panels having a buoyant bottom portion, and a pair of opposing sides; a plurality of hinges, each hinge for elastically connecting a side of a first one of the panels to a side of an adjacent second one of the panels with an included angle therebetween, to form a buoyant continuous first pleated row of panels, such that the hinges are arranged in first and second substantially parallel rows, each hinge of the first row of hinges comprising a plurality of elastic portions and a substantially rigid net connection portion; and an impact net comprising a plurality of substantially parallel, substantially horizontal impact cables, each impact cable attached to the net connection portion of each of the hinges in the first row of hinges; wherein opposite ends of the impact cables each have a cable stop rigidly attached thereto; and wherein the net connection portions of the first row of hinges are attachable to the impact cables with a predetermined tension such that, when the barrier is floating in a body of water and a moving vessel impacts the impact net, a force of the impact causes the impact cables to move relative to the net connection portions, transferring a portion of the force of the impact to the net connection portions, until the cable stops engage corresponding ones of the net connection portions adjacent the cable stops, and after the cable stops engage the corresponding ones of the net connection portions, the force of the impact is transferred to one or more of the first plurality of panels, which in turn engage the water to transfer the force of the impact to the water, to arrest the motion of the vessel.