Modular marine foundation

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for marine foundation modules to support erosion control structures for protection against coastal shoreline erosion. The module has a planar base having at least four connected wall sections, with each wall section having an upper tapered wall section extending outwardly from the planar base and a lower vertical wall section extending downwardly from the upper wall section. The at least four wall sections and the planar base define an inner cavity having an inner surface area, the inner surface area having a central planar inner surface extending outwardly to an inner tapered surface transitioning concavely to an inner lower vertical wall surface. The lower vertical wall sections are configured to embed into soil of a sea bed floor, for anchoring the module. The inner cavity encloses the soil, such that the soil exerts an upward force on the inner surface area of the module to enhance load bearing capacity of the module.

The claimed invention is: 
     
         1 . A structural foundation module for protection against coastal shoreline erosion, comprising:
 a planar base having at least four connected wall sections,   each connected wall section comprising an upper tapered wall section extending outwardly from the planar base and a lower vertical wall section extending downwardly from said upper wall section;   said at least four wall sections defining in combination with the planar base an inner cavity having an inner surface area, said inner surface area comprising a central planar inner surface extending outwardly to an inner tapered surface transitioning concavely to an inner lower vertical wall surface;   wherein said lower vertical wall sections are configured to embed into soil of a sea bed floor, for anchoring the module therein;   wherein said inner cavity is adapted to enclose such soil, such that such enclosed soil exerts an upward force on the inner surface area of said module to enhance load bearing capacity of said module.   
     
     
         2 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the each of the four vertical walls is adapted to embed into the surface of the ground to self-anchor until the central planar inner surface of said planar base contacts a surface of the sea bed, wherein the vertical wall sections are adapted to resist gravitational shear stresses within the soil. 
     
     
         3 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the tapered wall sections defines at least one aperture adapted for the flow of air and water when the verticals walls embed into a soil bed. 
     
     
         4 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the planar body and tapered walls are constructed of reinforced concrete, comprising steel reinforcement bar disposed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the upper tapered wall sections is characterized as a ribbed surface, said ribbed surface adapted to collect aggregate thereon. 
     
     
         6 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the outer surface of the upper tapered wall sections is characterized as a laterally inwardly stepped surface at discrete intervals along its length such that the laterally inwardly stepped surface is adapted to collect aggregate thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the planar base is characterized as square in shape. 
     
     
         8 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the planar base, tapered wall sections and vertical wall sections are of unitary construction fabricated with reinforced concrete. 
     
     
         9 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the planar base is characterized as rectangular in shape. 
     
     
         10 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein verticals walls are adapted to self-anchor into a sea bed floor. 
     
     
         11 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein said module is characterized by a weight, wherein said upward force exceeds the weight of the module. 
     
     
         12 . The structural foundation module of  claim 1 , wherein the combined width of the planar base and tapered walls is at least twice the length of the respective lower vertical walls. 
     
     
         13 . A modular marine foundation comprising:
 a plurality of structural foundation modules, wherein each structural foundation module comprises:
 a planar base having at least four connected wall sections, 
 each connected wall section comprising an upper tapered wall section extending outwardly from the planar base and a lower vertical wall section extending downwardly from said upper wall section; 
 said at least four wall sections defining in combination with the planar base an inner cavity having an inner surface area, said inner surface area comprising a central planar inner surface extending outwardly to an inner tapered surface transitioning concavely to an inner lower vertical wall surface; 
 wherein said lower vertical wall sections are configured to embed into soil of a sea bed floor, for anchoring the module therein; 
 wherein said inner cavity is adapted to enclose such soil, such that the enclosed soil exerts an upward force on the inner surface area of said module to enhance load bearing capacity of said module. 
   wherein the structural foundation modules are arranged in an array to form a geometric pattern of modules along a coastal zone where erosion is to be controlled, wherein said geometric pattern of said modules is positioned to provide foundational support for artificial reefs or other erosion control structures when the vertical wall sections are embedded into the soil of the sea bed floor.   
     
     
         14 . The modular marine foundation of  claim 13 , wherein said geometric pattern of modules comprises at least one first module disposed adjacent to at least one second module, wherein at least one vertical wall section of the at least one first module opposes at least one vertical wall section of the at least one second module. 
     
     
         15 . The modular marine foundation of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one upper structural foundation modules positioned atop the at least one first module and the at least one second module such the planar base of the at least one first module and the planar base of the at least one second module structurally support at least two lower vertical wall sections of the at least one upper structural foundation modules. 
     
     
         16 . The modular marine foundation of  claim 15 , wherein a cavity is defined between the geometric pattern of modules and the one or more upper structural foundation modules. 
     
     
         17 . A method of constructing a marine foundation for protection against coastal erosion, comprising:
 transporting a plurality of self-anchoring foundation modules to a coastal site where coastal protection structures will be placed to control erosion, wherein each module comprises a shell body having a top wall connected to four opposing vertical side walls, said module being adapted such that when the module is submerged said vertical side walls embed into the soil of the sea bed; and   submerging the modules into the sea bed while arranging the modules in an array that extends along the coastal site so that the modules form a marine foundation adapted to receive and support aggregate and other coastal protection structures.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transporting aggregate to the coastal site and unloading the aggregate onto the marine foundation to dissipate wave action. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising transporting artificial reefs to the coastal site and unloading the artificial reefs onto the marine foundation.