Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Design of Full-Ocean-Depth Self-Floating Sampler and Analysis of Factors Affecting Core Penetration Depth

  • Published:
Journal of Ocean University of China Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The hadal zone (ocean depths of 6–11 km) is one of the least-understood habitats on Earth because of its extreme conditions such as high pressure, darkness, and low temperature. With the development of deep-sea vehicles such as China’s 7000 m manned submersible Jiaolong, abyssal science has received greater attention. For decades, gravity-piston corers have been widely used to collect loose subsea-sediment long-core samples. However, the weight and length of the gravity sampler cables and the operating environment limit sampling capacity at full ocean depths. Therefore, a new self-floating sediment sampler with a spring-loaded auto-trigger release and that incorporates characteristics from traditional gravity-driven samplers is designed. This study analyzes the process by which a gravity-piston corer penetrates the sediment and the factors that affect it. A formula for obtaining the penetration depth is deduced. A method of optimizing the sampling depth is then developed based on structure design and parametric factor modeling. The parameters considered in the modeling include the sampling depth, balance weight, ultimate stress friction coefficient, dimensions of the sampler, and material properties. Thus, a new deep-sea floating parametric sampler designed based on virtual prototyping is proposed. Accurate values for all the design factors are derived from calculations based on the conservation of energy with penetration depth, analyses of the factors affecting the penetration depth, and analyses of the pressure bar stability. Finally, experimental data are used to verify the penetration-depth function and to provide theoretical guidance for the design of sediment samplers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Abbreviations

A :

Maximum cross-sectional area of the sampling tube

C :

Circumference of the sampling tube

C D :

Coefficient of friction between seawater and the sampler

D :

Maximum diameter of the sampling tube

E :

Elasticity modulus

E k :

Kinetic energy of the sampler

E P :

Potential energy of the sample

E t :

Sampler penetration energy

F :

Frictional force

F cr :

Critical buckling pressure

F s :

Resistance to penetration

F u :

End face resistance

g :

Acceleration due to gravity

i :

Inertial radius of the cross section

I :

Moment of inertia

L :

Penetration depth of the sampling tube

m :

Mass of the sampler

n1:

Safety coefficient of the sampling tube during penetration

v :

Final descent velocity of the sampler when it contacts the sediment

v 0 :

Initial descent velocity of the sampler

W :

Work done to overcome friction

X :

Free-sinking distance of the sampler

δ cr :

Critical stress

δ p :

Proportional limit

λ :

Flexibility

ρ c :

Density of the sampler

ρ w :

Density of the seawater

T :

Ultimate frictional coefficient of the sediment

References

  • Blankenship-Williams, L. E., and Levin, L. A., 2009. Living deep: A synopsis of hadal trench ecology. Marine Technology Society Journal, 43 (5): 137–143, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4031/mtsj.43.5.23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bowen, A. D., Yoerger, D. R., and Taylor, C., 2008. The Nereus hybrid underwater robotic vehicle for global ocean science operations to 11000 m depth. Oceans IEEE. Hawaii, 867–873.

  • Bu, J. W., Yan, T. N., and Bu, S. R., 2000. Structure and working principle of controllable sampler. Geological Science and Technology Information, 19 (4): 100–104 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bu, J. W., Yan, T. N., and Cheng, H. Z., 2001. Structure and working principle of floating-balls sampler. Geological Science and Technology Information, 20 (1): 109–112 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Clemens, S. C., and Tiedemann, R., 1997. Eccentricity forcing of Pliocene — early Pleistocene climate revealed in a marine oxygen-isotope record. Nature, 385 (6619): 801–804, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/385801a0.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cui, W. C., Hu, Y., and Guo, W., 2017. Chinese journey to the Challenger Deep: The development and first phase of sea trial of an 11000-m Rainbowfish ARV. Marine Technology Society Journal, 51 (3): 23–35, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.51.3.2.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, X., Ding, K., and Ren, Y. G., 2017. Target deployment and retrieval using Jiaolong manned submersible in the depth of 6600m in Mariana Trench. China Ocean Engineering, 31: 618–623, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13344-017-0071-9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoyaux, B., and Ladanyi, B., 1970. Gravitational stress field around a tunnel in soft ground. Canadian Geotechnical Journal, 7 (1): 54–61, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1139/t70-005.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jamieson, A. J., Fujii, T., Solan, M., and Priede, I. G., 2009. HADEEP: Free-falling landers to the deepest places on earth. Marine Technology Society Journal, 43 (5): 151–160, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4031/mtsj.43.5.17.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, F., 2014. Jiaolong manned submersible: A decade’s retrospect from 2002 to 2012. Marine Technology Society Journal, 48 (3): 7–16, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4031/mtsj.48.3.14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mingram, J., Negendank, J. F. W., Brauer, A., Berger, D., Hendrich, A., Köhler, M., and Usinger, H., 2007. Long cores from small lakes — Recovering up to 100 m-long lake sediment sequences with a high-precision rod-operated piston corer (Usinger-corer). Journal of Paleolimnology, 37 (4): 517–528, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-006-9035-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nunoura, T., Nishizawa, M., and Hirai, M., 2018. Microbial diversity in sediments from the bottom of the Challenger Deep, the Mariana Trench. Microbes and Environments, 33 (2): 186–194, DOI: 0.1264/jsme2.ME17194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qin, H. W., Chen, J. Q., Wang, J. J., and Chen, Y., 2013. Design and sea trial research of new hydrostatic corer. China Mechanical Engineering, 24 (7): 942–945 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, T., 1970. The concept of the hadal or ultra-abyssal fauna. Deep Sea Research, 17: 983–1003, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/0011-7471(70)90049-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoshida, H., Ishibashi, S., and Watanabe, Y., 2009. The ABISMO mud and water sampling ROV for surveys at 11000 m depth. Marine Technology Society Journal, 43 (5): 87–96, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4031/MTSJ.43.5.31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zachos, J., Pagani, M., and Sloan, L., 2001. Trends, rhythms, and aberrations in global climate 65 Ma to present. Science, 292 (5517): 686–693, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1059412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Q. L., Liu, G. J., and Guo, Y. L., 2009. The structural design and dynamic analysis of collecting process of new type seabed sampler. Ocean Technology, 28 (4): 20–23 (in Chinese with English abstract).

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research was jointly supported by the Stable Supporting Fund of Science and Technology on Underwater Vehicle Technology (No. JCKYS2019604SXJQR-06), the National Natural Science Foundation of China-Marine Science Research Center of Shandong Provincial Government Joint Funding Project (No. U1606401), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61603108), the Taishan Scholar Project Funding (No. tspd20161007), the National Key Research and Development Plan (Nos. 20 16YFC0300704, 2017YFC030660). We would like to give special thanks to the crew on Leg II of the 37th China Dayang Cruise along the southwestern area of the Mariana Trench. The diving area on this leg is on the southern slope of the Challenger Deep between 6300 and 8300 m deep. Valuable sediment data and samples were obtained during this voyage and the data provided were crucial to this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical Engineering, Shandong University, Jinan, 250061, China

    Yugang Ren, Yanjun Liu & Jianhua Zhang

  2. National Deep Sea Center, Qingdao, 266237, China

    Yugang Ren, Zhongjun Ding & Baohua Liu

  3. Institute of Marine Science and Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, China

    Yanjun Liu

  4. Science and Technology on Underwater Vehicle Laboratory, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin, 150001, China

    Yugang Ren

Authors
  1. Yugang Ren
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yanjun Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Zhongjun Ding
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Baohua Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jianhua Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Yanjun Liu or Jianhua Zhang.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ren, Y., Liu, Y., Ding, Z. et al. Design of Full-Ocean-Depth Self-Floating Sampler and Analysis of Factors Affecting Core Penetration Depth. J. Ocean Univ. China 19, 1094–1102 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-020-4276-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11802-020-4276-9

Key words

Search

Navigation