Unclassified 



SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGEflHien Da 



20. Continued 



subsystems. Propulsion systems investigated included towing, thrusters, tracks or wheels, 

 and cable traction. Excavating means included iluidizing, plowing, water jetting, 

 trenching, and direct insertion of the cable. The running gear systems investigated were 

 skids, rolling elements, and a water cushion. Subsystem candidates were combined into 

 system concepts, and the concepts were rated according to their power and force require 

 ments, probability of cable damage, capability of handling different soils and terrains, 

 controllability, weight, size, and complexity. It was concluded that the system with the 

 best chance of successfully burying cables in the deep ocean while meeting the operation- 

 al requirements and design requirements would be self-powered with thrusters, supported 

 on skids, and utilize vibratory plowing and/or water jetting for the burial means. 



Library card 



Civil Engineering Laboratory 



DEEP OCEAN CABLE BURIAL CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT 

 by P. K. Rockwell 



TN-1453 74 pp illus August 1976 Unclassified 



1. Cable burial 2. Ocean equipment I. YF52. 556.003.01.008 



Seafloor cable systems are failing in increasing numbers due to fishing-trawler-induced 

 damage. It has been demonstrated that the burial of seafloor cables markedly reduces the 

 incidence of damage. The objective of this work was to identify viable cable burial system 

 concepts and to perform the research and analysis necessary to select the most promising 

 approach to burying cables 3 feet deep in the seafloor to depths of 6,000 feet. The three 

 major problem areas considered were the propulsion, excavation, and running gear subsystems. 

 Propulsion systems investigated included towing, thrusters, tracks or wheels, and cable traction. 

 Excavating means included fluidizing, plowing, water jetting, trenching, and direct insertion of 

 the cable. The running gear systems investigated were skids, rolling elements, and a water 

 cushion. Subsystem candidates were combined into system concepts, and the concepts were 

 rated according to their power and force requirements, probability of cable damage, capability 

 of handling different soils and terrains, controllability, weight, size, and complexity. It was 

 concluded that the system with the best chance of successfully burying cables in the deep ocean 

 while meeting the operational requirements and design requirements would be self-powered with 

 thrusters, supported on skids, and utilize vibratory plowing and/or water jetting for the burial 



Unclassified 



ASSIFICATION OF THIS P AGE'Wher Da 



