Portable Rapid Pipe Pile Cutter System. Phase I

摘要

The Modular Elevated Causeway System, ELCAS(M) is used during AmphibiousOperations to transfer vehicles, materials and containerized cargo from deep draft ships moored offshore. The cargo is transported on the ELCAS(M) to an unimproved beach staging area for dissemination to the field. During the assembly of the elevated causeway, steel piles are driven into the sea floor to which the causeway sections are attached. Once each section of causeway is assembled the piles extending above the causeway sufface must be cut off to permit delivery of the next section for installation. The steel piles currently in use are 24 inches in diameter with a wall thickness of 0.5 inch. Pile cutting is performed using manual cutting torches while the pile is supported by a crane. Taking between 15 to 20 minutes to accomplish, average process speeds range from only 3.7 to 5.0 inches per minute (ipm) given the 75.4 in. circuinfrential distance. Approximately 60 hours of valuable crane assistance are required to cut and remove more than 160 piles for a 3000 foot long causeway. The ELCAS(M) can be made operational significantly faster by implementing a superior technology for steel pile cut off.