Floating pontoons are increasingly being used to support a variety of structures, including large-scale civil engineering projects, entertainment activities and temporary access to permanent installations.
Image Credit: Strongwell Corporation
Recently, a quarry operator required a floating pump platform for dewatering, a vital process for managing water levels in excavations below natural groundwater levels. Dewatering ensures excavation sites remain stable and dry.
By removing excess water, dewatering creates dry and stable working conditions, improving transportation, excavation, and blasting operations. Additionally, reducing moisture in stone or ore minimizes waste by-products, enhancing overall efficiency in mining and extraction.
In this study, Pipex px® designed and supplied a 20' by 30' fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) quarry pump platform. The primary design challenges were weight and rigidity, as the platform needed to support pump equipment, personnel, and additional support machinery while maintaining stability and durability.
Image Credit: Strongwell Corporation
In floating applications, steel’s strength-to-weight ratio can lead to deflection and buoyancy challenges. In contrast, FRP’s lighter weight, stability, and corrosion resistance offered a superior alternative to traditional metallic quarry pump pontoons. In this case, the end user specified strict buoyancy limits, and the lightweight FRP structure allowed for greater equipment capacity on the platform.
Source: Strongwell Corporation
| Technical Data |
| Product: |
Floating Pump Platform |
| Process: |
Pultrusion |
| Materials & Sizes: |
DURAGRID® I-6000 1-1/2" Grating
SAFRAIL™ Railing System
EXTREN® Series 525 Structural Shapes:
- 8" x 2-3/16" x 3/8" channel
- 1/2" plate
|
| For: |
Pipex px® |
| User: |
Rock Quarry Mining Operator |
DURAGRID® I-6000 was chosen to create the floor for the structure, while EXTREN® profiles were used within the support structure. These were prefabricated in 10' x 20' sections. SAFRAIL™ Industrial Railing system, flat packed and attached on-site to streamline installation at the quarry.
Upon completion, both the contractor and quarry operators were highly satisfied with the pontoon’s design, ease of installation, and operational performance.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Strongwell Corporation.
For more information on this source, please visit Strongwell Corporation.