A recent review on multi-physics coupling between deep-sea mining equipment and marine sediment

Abstract

Marine contains rich natural ore resources with significant development prospects and strategic value significance, and marine metal resource mining is critical in ocean engineering. Based on recent researches, the multi-physics coupling between track of deep-sea mining equipment and sediment has been presented in this paper, and the affecting factors and the challenges have been discussed. The characteristics such as cementation performance, dynamics and deformation of deep-sea sediment are introduced based on macro and micro perspectives. Secondly, depending on the characteristics of sediment and track, the driving performance of the mineral equipment was discussed. The dynamic performance of the mining equipment (climbing, steering, etc.) was analyzed under the coupling effects between track and sediment. In addition, the effects of risers and mining vessels in complex environments, and the hydrodynamic characteristics of the vehicle driving were considered emphatically. Meanwhile, the impact of the non-constant flow field generated by the jet device and the erosion on the coupling effect between track and sediment is also studied. Finally, the current existing problems and future research directions were put forward. This research reviews the multi-physics coupling between track of deep-sea mining equipment and sediment, which has positive enlightenments for studying generation of plume from sediment disturbance, constructing the muti-physics coupling field, and ensuring efficient collecting and driving of heavy mining equipment in the deep-sea mining system.