Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 103572 |
| Journal | Applied ocean research |
| Volume | 136 |
| Early online date | 29 Apr 2023 |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2023 |
Abstract
The enhanced inertia load caused by biofouling on device components, such as the foundations of wind turbines or other structures at sea, modifies the hydrodynamic properties, and increases the stress to structures, predominantly in upper water layers with high impact from wave dynamics. This compromises the stability, functioning, operation as well as the durability of these devices especially in exposed environments. A main challenge is the quantification of the impact of hydrodynamic forces on irregular bodies being overgrown by soft- and hard-bodied biofouling organisms. Therefore, test bodies from the upper 1–5 m water depth and thus exposed to the strongest wave actions close to the surface shall be overgrown by biofouling and used in measurement trials in a wave and current flume. These measurements shall shed light on the varying roughness and its influence on the load bearing capacity of foundation piles. Consequently, the main aims of the present work were the development of two independent test stations as holding devices for artificial test bodies for the collection of biofouling organisms during field studies: a carrying unit floating at the surface in an exposed area (System A) and a sampling device with access from a land-based facility (System B). Both systems are relatively easy to access, exhibit straightforward handling, and are reasonable cost-effective. A Test Body Support Unit (TBSU, System A) was designed and mounted on a spare buoy to carry the test bodies (cylinders), which serve as substrate for the fouling. The system was sufficiently robust to withstand several periods of rough sea conditions over the first two years. This system can only be accessed by vessels. System B (MareLift) provided the robustness and functionality needed for areas exhibiting harsh conditions but can be operated from land. The here used test bodies (steel panels) exhibited a sound basis for the monitoring of succession processes in the biofouling development. System B offered the possibility to analyse two habitats (intertidal and subtidal) and revealed clear differences in the composition and development of their fouling communities. Overall, both systems provide advantages in obtaining standardized biofouling samples compared to previous approaches. Such test stations play an important role in the risk management of marine sectors as they could help characterising biofouling communities over different geographical areas. System A and B provide a sound basis for biofouling research but potentially also for other potential research approaches in exposed areas as they provide space for future developments.
Keywords
- Biofouling, Exposed, Flume, North Sea, Offshore, Sheltered, Test body, Test station
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Engineering(all)
- Ocean Engineering
Sustainable Development Goals
Cite this
- Standard
- Harvard
- Apa
- Vancouver
- BibTeX
- RIS
In: Applied ocean research, Vol. 136, 103572, 07.2023.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A conceptual basis for surveying fouling communities at exposed and protected sites at sea
T2 - Feasible designs with exchangeable test bodies for in-situ biofouling collection
AU - Isbert, W.
AU - Lindemann, C.
AU - Lemburg, J.
AU - Littmann, M.
AU - Tegethoff, K.
AU - Goseberg, N.
AU - Durst, S.
AU - Schürenkamp, D.
AU - Buck, B. H.
N1 - Funding Information: The authors a very grateful to the anonymous reviewers for their suggestions and comments, which improved the manuscript considerably. Further, the authors thank the ship crews of both research vessels RV Uthörn and RV Heincke for their assistance during the oceanographic campaigns, and the AWI-workshop for manufacturing both systems (System A: V1 and System B), and the support during the installation of MareLift in the northeast harbour of Helgoland. This work was supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action ( BMWK; formerly funded by the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWI); 03SX495-A and 03SX495-B ).
PY - 2023/7
Y1 - 2023/7
N2 - The enhanced inertia load caused by biofouling on device components, such as the foundations of wind turbines or other structures at sea, modifies the hydrodynamic properties, and increases the stress to structures, predominantly in upper water layers with high impact from wave dynamics. This compromises the stability, functioning, operation as well as the durability of these devices especially in exposed environments. A main challenge is the quantification of the impact of hydrodynamic forces on irregular bodies being overgrown by soft- and hard-bodied biofouling organisms. Therefore, test bodies from the upper 1–5 m water depth and thus exposed to the strongest wave actions close to the surface shall be overgrown by biofouling and used in measurement trials in a wave and current flume. These measurements shall shed light on the varying roughness and its influence on the load bearing capacity of foundation piles. Consequently, the main aims of the present work were the development of two independent test stations as holding devices for artificial test bodies for the collection of biofouling organisms during field studies: a carrying unit floating at the surface in an exposed area (System A) and a sampling device with access from a land-based facility (System B). Both systems are relatively easy to access, exhibit straightforward handling, and are reasonable cost-effective. A Test Body Support Unit (TBSU, System A) was designed and mounted on a spare buoy to carry the test bodies (cylinders), which serve as substrate for the fouling. The system was sufficiently robust to withstand several periods of rough sea conditions over the first two years. This system can only be accessed by vessels. System B (MareLift) provided the robustness and functionality needed for areas exhibiting harsh conditions but can be operated from land. The here used test bodies (steel panels) exhibited a sound basis for the monitoring of succession processes in the biofouling development. System B offered the possibility to analyse two habitats (intertidal and subtidal) and revealed clear differences in the composition and development of their fouling communities. Overall, both systems provide advantages in obtaining standardized biofouling samples compared to previous approaches. Such test stations play an important role in the risk management of marine sectors as they could help characterising biofouling communities over different geographical areas. System A and B provide a sound basis for biofouling research but potentially also for other potential research approaches in exposed areas as they provide space for future developments.
AB - The enhanced inertia load caused by biofouling on device components, such as the foundations of wind turbines or other structures at sea, modifies the hydrodynamic properties, and increases the stress to structures, predominantly in upper water layers with high impact from wave dynamics. This compromises the stability, functioning, operation as well as the durability of these devices especially in exposed environments. A main challenge is the quantification of the impact of hydrodynamic forces on irregular bodies being overgrown by soft- and hard-bodied biofouling organisms. Therefore, test bodies from the upper 1–5 m water depth and thus exposed to the strongest wave actions close to the surface shall be overgrown by biofouling and used in measurement trials in a wave and current flume. These measurements shall shed light on the varying roughness and its influence on the load bearing capacity of foundation piles. Consequently, the main aims of the present work were the development of two independent test stations as holding devices for artificial test bodies for the collection of biofouling organisms during field studies: a carrying unit floating at the surface in an exposed area (System A) and a sampling device with access from a land-based facility (System B). Both systems are relatively easy to access, exhibit straightforward handling, and are reasonable cost-effective. A Test Body Support Unit (TBSU, System A) was designed and mounted on a spare buoy to carry the test bodies (cylinders), which serve as substrate for the fouling. The system was sufficiently robust to withstand several periods of rough sea conditions over the first two years. This system can only be accessed by vessels. System B (MareLift) provided the robustness and functionality needed for areas exhibiting harsh conditions but can be operated from land. The here used test bodies (steel panels) exhibited a sound basis for the monitoring of succession processes in the biofouling development. System B offered the possibility to analyse two habitats (intertidal and subtidal) and revealed clear differences in the composition and development of their fouling communities. Overall, both systems provide advantages in obtaining standardized biofouling samples compared to previous approaches. Such test stations play an important role in the risk management of marine sectors as they could help characterising biofouling communities over different geographical areas. System A and B provide a sound basis for biofouling research but potentially also for other potential research approaches in exposed areas as they provide space for future developments.
KW - Biofouling
KW - Exposed
KW - Flume
KW - North Sea
KW - Offshore
KW - Sheltered
KW - Test body
KW - Test station
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85154531220&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.apor.2023.103572
DO - 10.1016/j.apor.2023.103572
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85154531220
VL - 136
JO - Applied ocean research
JF - Applied ocean research
SN - 0141-1187
M1 - 103572
ER -