Modular structures and method for construction thereof

Abstract

A modular structure for being at least partly submerged in a body of water, is disclosed. The modular structure comprises structure elements and strengthening elements providing structural integrity and flexibility, and can typically be a closed structure like e.g. a tank structure. Further, macro structures comprising attached modular structures are presented. Finally, methods for construction of such structures are disclosed.

1 . A modular structure for being at least partly submerged in a body of water, where the modular structure comprises a plurality of structure elements ( 1 ), where each structure element ( 1 ) comprises polymers,
 each structure element ( 1 ) comprises one or more protruding ( 3 ) and receiving parts ( 2 ) wherein the protruding parts ( 3 ) of a structure element ( 1 ) are arranged for mating connection with the receiving parts ( 2 ) on another structure element ( 1 ), the direction of mating motion defining a longitudinal direction of the structure element ( 1 ), and;   the modular structure comprises strengthening elements ( 9 ,  10 ,  18 ) for providing structural integrity to the modular structure, where the strengthening elements ( 9 ,  10 ,  18 ) are enveloping and/or penetrating at least parts of at least two structure elements ( 1 ) of the modular structure;   the structure elements ( 1 ) are adapted to form longitudinal channels inside the protruding ( 3 ) and receiving parts ( 2 ), where the channels communicate across two or more structure elements ( 1 ) that are in a mated connection;   the structure elements ( 1 ) have apertures adapted to form channels through the structure elements ( 1 ) in at least one direction transverse to the longitudinal direction; and   the structure elements ( 1 ) and strengthening elements ( 9 ,  10 ,  18 ) are adapted to provide flexibility to the modular structure while maintaining its structural integrity by at least one of the following i) comprising material with inherent elasticity, and ii) being formed to allow relative movement between at least two structure elements ( 1 ).   
     
     
         2 . The modular structure according to  claim 1 , where the modular structure forms at least one closed structure, where a number of structure elements ( 1 ) that overlap partially or completely in the longitudinal direction are connected in a network that closes upon itself around a volume. 
     
     
         3 . The modular structure according to  claim 2 , where the closed structure is a tank structure delineating a volume for the storage or processing of media in fluid form or materials carried in a fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The modular structure according to  claim 2 , where the closed structure is a cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The modular structure according to  claim 2 , where a longitudinal dimension of the closed structure is smaller than the largest dimension in a plane transversal to the longitudinal direction, such that the closed structure forms a circular or polygonal disk or annulus. 
     
     
         6 . The modular structure according to  claim 1 , where the protruding parts ( 3 ) and the receiving parts ( 2 ) of the structure elements ( 1 ) are each provided with at least one set of two apertures positioned so that the apertures in the protruding part ( 3 ) align with the respective apertures in a receiving part ( 2 ) in longitudinally attached adjacent structure elements ( 1 ) and thus forming transversal channels perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         7 . The modular structure according to  claim 5 , where at least one of the strengthening elements ( 9 ,  10 ) is inserted in at least one of the longitudinal and the transversal channels. 
     
     
         8 . The modular structure according to  claim 1 , where the strengthening elements ( 9 ,  10 ,  18 ) comprise at least one of the following: i) an elongate strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ), and ii) a surface element ( 18 ) for enveloping at least parts of the structure. 
     
     
         9 . The modular structure according to  claim 8 , where the elongate element according to i) comprises at least one of the following: a strap, a cable, a container, a tube, and a rod, and the surface element ( 18 ) according to ii) comprises at least one of the following: a foil, a tarp, a flexible plate, and a band. 
     
     
         10 . The modular structure according to  claim 8 , where the elongated strengthening ( 9 ,  10 ) element according to alternative i) is forming a closed loop attaching at least two structure elements ( 1 ) and/or modular structures. 
     
     
         11 . The modular structure according to  claim 9 , where the elongated strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) is arranged according to one or more of the following alternatives: i) in the longitudinal channel and ii) along an outside of each of the at least two structure elements ( 1 ). 
     
     
         12 . The modular structure according to  claim 9 , wherein the strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) comprises a container or a tube according to alternative i), where the container or tube is adapted to be filled with one ore more of the following materials: sand, gravel, earth and pellets, gas filled bodies, expanded polystyrene and polymeric-based pellets. 
     
     
         13 . The modular structure according to  claim 12 , wherein the strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) acts as a buoyancy controlling device as one of the following: i) a flotation element by the container being filled with a material giving the strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) a positive buoyancy, and ii) a ballast element by the container being filled with a material giving the strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) a negative buoyancy. 
     
     
         14 . The modular structure according to  claim 6 , where the modular structure comprises a strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) for attaching at least a first and a second structure element ( 1 ) wherein the strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) is arranged to pass through both holes in each of the adjacent structure elements ( 1 ). 
     
     
         15 . The modular structure according to  claim 14 , where the strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) comprises at least one of the following: pin, bolt, and clasp. 
     
     
         16 . The modular structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the protruding part ( 3 ) and the receiving part ( 2 ) of the structure elements ( 1 ) are provided with polygonal mating surfaces so that the mating connection is made at predetermined angles between the structure element ( 1 ) and an adjacent structure element ( 1 ). 
     
     
         17 . The modular structure according to  claim 2 , further comprising at least one of a top floor and a bottom floor respectively arranged in a transversal plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, where the at least one of the top and bottom floors comprises a number of disks or annuli according to  claim 5 . 
     
     
         18 . The modular structure according to  claim 17 , where the at least one of the top and bottom floors is in contact with an inside of a closed structure at an end in the longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         19 . A macro structure comprising at least a first and a second modular structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second modular structures are attached to each other. 
     
     
         20 . The macro structure according to  claim 19 , where the at least first and second modular structures contribute to form a perimeter wall of a closed macro structure delineating a macro volume. 
     
     
         21 . The macro structure according to  claim 20 , where the perimeter wall comprises an inner and/or an outer wall sandwiching the closed modular structures of the perimeter wall. 
     
     
         22 . The macro structure according to  claim 19 , where at least two of the closed modular structures are attached by an elongated strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) according to  claim 8 . 
     
     
         23 . The macro structure according to  claim 22 , where the elongated strengthening element ( 9 ,  10 ) is looped through a longitudinal channel or around a part of one of the at least two attached modular structures, and through a longitudinal channel or around a part of another of the at least two attached modular structures. 
     
     
         24 . The macro structure according  claim 17 , where at least two contiguous closed structures are coupled by at least one surface element ( 18 ) according to  claim 9 . 
     
     
         25 . A method for construction of a modular structure according to  claim 1 , comprising the following steps:
 assembling of the structure elements ( 1 ), such that at least a first structure element ( 1 ) connects by mutual connection and fastening to a second structure element ( 1 ), in that the first and second structure elements ( 1 ) when connected form at least one longitudinal channel.   
     
     
         26 . Method for construction of a modular structure according to  claim 25 , and where the method further comprises the following steps:
 a. establishing a first part of the modular structure;   b. assembling of structure elements ( 1 ) where the assembling occurs with the modular structure floating partially submerged in the body of water; and   c. sinking of the modular structure such that the assembly occurs at approximately a constant height over the body of water.   
     
     
         27 . Method according to  claim 26 , were the assembly occurs by sequential application of the structure elements ( 1 ), layer by layer.