SEAFLOOR CONSTRUCTION EXPERIMENTS (SEACON) 



Robert A. Breckenridge 



Program Manager, Ocean Engineering Department 



NavBl Civil Engineering Laboratory (NCEL), Port Hueneme, California 



ABSTRACT 



Implicit in many planned applications of oceanography to naval develop- 

 ment, operations, and warfare is the capability to construct installations 

 of various types in the ocean. SEACON is a number of interrelated SEAfloor 

 CONstruction experiments. It will force technological integration of 

 recently developed construction equipment and techniques and identify defi- 

 ciencies or gaps in existing seafloor construction technology. The ulti- 

 mate goal is to achieve a demonstrated capability for the construction of 

 bottom installations. 



SEACON will be conducted near Port Hueneme, California at a depth of 

 600 feet. Preliminary site selection experiments have begun and will con- 

 sist of an acquisition of data on the seafloor sediment and oceanographic 

 environment as well as an evaluation of the equipment used to obtain the 

 data. Site preparation is scheduled to commence in 1970. Methods for con- 

 structing foundation systems will be evaluated, and their structural 

 response will be determined. Although a complete habitable structure is 

 not proposed, one or more precast concrete spherical or cylindrical hull 

 structures will be emplaced to evaluate long-term effects on structural 

 response as well as to develop methods for constructing one-atmosphere 

 concrete structures. In addition, these structures will be used to sup- 

 port experiments on newly developed windows, antifouling agents, seals, 

 and gaskets. 



To conduct these construction experiments, there will be requirements 

 for power, lighting, load -handling equipment, and anchors and moorings. 

 Where appropriate the systems providing this support will be evaluated as 

 part of the program. 



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