Dutch seal a deal in South Korea
The latest specialist watertight sealing solution delivered by Dutch specialist Beele Engineering involves the immersion tunnel near the South Korean city of Busan that is being immersed by Mergor, a subsidiary of Strukton. The deepest element of this tunnel was placed recently at a depth of 50m.
The Geoje Fixed Link connects the second capital of South Korea, Busan, with the Geoje peninsula, reducing the travel time between the two from 2.5 hours to just 50 minutes. The tunnel is 3.2km long. For the watertight sealing of pipe penetrations the Dynatite system of Beele Engineering is being used.
Prior to the field application, tests were carried out to determine the maximum pressure load of the sealing plug. It was tested under a pressure load of 1400 kg (14 kN). The pressure test was even continued with higher loads to determine the maximum compression of the plug. Even at the extremely high pressure load of more than 18 kN (equalling a pressure of 27.5 bar) the profiling of the Dynatite plug hadn’t reached bulk modulus and thefore could be compressed even further.
The Dynatite system was developed for applications where a high degree of (instantaneous) tightness is required. The Dynatite plugs are compressible, can easily withstand shock pressure loads of more than 150 psi (10 bar) and will return to their original shape after shock pressure. The dynamic compression of the plug is based on the high-tech rubber grade and the engineered profiling.
Mergor, the underwater construction subsidiary of Utrecht based Strukton Betonbouw BV, is specialised in immersion projects. It’s field of activities includes the engineering and preparations for immersed tunnel projects, as well as their execution and the relevant matching marine activities.
