Tension Membrane Water Retaining Structures
Author(s)
M. Cullen
Abstract
Since the first recorded use of mitre gates in a canal in Milan during the 15 th
century there is a consistent aspect to all gate styles. Whether the gate style is
mitre, flap, or sector the main structural element is rigid. From the earliest gates
that were constructed from structural timber to be followed by iron and currently
to steel, gates are all designed to be rigid. Rigid in that the design assumes an
elastic deformation, perhaps with plastic design applying appropriate factors of
safety with bending moments, shear forces and axial loading: compression and
tension. The resulting gate’s structure will utilise the basic structural
components of beam, strut and/or arch. These fundamental structural
components are well established in not only gate design, but also for building
design, bridge design, etc. However, there would be an outcry if the design of a
sail for a boat were rigid. Sails are flexible to allow their easy storage,
manoeuvring into position and freedom to best respond to wind loading. As
there are fundamental similarities to gas and fluid physics why not use a flexible
membrane in a structural context to control water levels in maritime uses such as
lock gates?
The following sections will consider the established gate forms and their
inefficiencies in retaining water levels together with the changing operational
maritime environment of such structures. Also to be discussed is the use of an
alternative, innovative form of gate structure as a way forward in water retention
for maritime uses.
Keywords: gates, flexible membrane, environment, water retaining, locks.
1 Introduction
It is believed Leonardo Da Vinci [1] was the first to design mitre gates in the 15 th
century when he was advising on the construction of a moat for the defence of
Milan. Over 200 years before Da Vinci’s work the Naviglio Grande Canal was
Keywords
gates, flexible membrane, environment, water retaining, locks.
Related Book
Other papers in this volume
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