Burial of Undersea Pipes and Cables Undersea Trencher Carrier. Part 2. Carrier Vehicle Design

摘要

The proposed operating environment for the vehicle includes a remarkable collection of challenges ranging from extremely soft soil to coral to rocky coast lines. The first design reaction to meet these requirements is to rely on displaced water for buoyancy and simply drift over the rough spots. However, the demand that a significant drawbar pull be available for the trenching operating eliminates buoyancy as an aid to mobility. The design concept was required therefore, to meet many of the constraints acting on its land-based counterparts and, in addition, accommodate additional constraints unique to the undersea environment. The various operating requirements and other criteria discussed in the following with appropriate comments concerning either the impact of the requirement or ways in which the requirement restricts design options. Keywords: Seabottom crawlers; Automative carriers. (Author).