LATreat™ deals with an accelerated form of corrosion
that can occur in marine steel piled structures at low water
Research and development has always been at the heart of Mott
MacDonald’s activities. As part of our long-running professional
excellence programme we encourage, initiate and carry out our own
research and development from investigating behaviours of deep sea
risers, to constructing numerical simulation tools, to exploring
methods to tackle corrosion.
Demonstrating our talent for research and development leading to
cost-saving innovation is our role in dealing with a form of
aggressive, localised corrosion, called accelerated low water
corrosion (ALWC). This has been a significant concern in the
maritime sector as ALWC is microbiologically induced and leads to
unexpected and premature deterioration of marine steel structures.
If left untreated it causes premature perforation of the steel
resulting in unexpected and often expensive remedial works. The
corrosion has the potential to cause total failure of quays and
other structures.
To tackle ALWC Mott MacDonald and BAC Corrosion Control developed a
cost-effective solution called LATreat™. The treatment concept uses
micro- and nanotechnology to both arrest the problem and provide
long-term protection against future attack. LATreat™ firstly
utilises cathodically generated molecular hydrogen to clean the
affected area and then sterilises the surface using anodically
generated chlorine. Finally, applying pulse current techniques,
ionised salts from the seawater are deposited on the surface to
provide an alkaline coating.
A patent covering both the methodology, which is electrochemically
based, and the apparatus used to apply the process has been
granted. Our research continues to fully optimise the process at
the micro- and nanotechnology scale.
In all sectors we frequently work in collaboration with
universities and research bodies, drawing on our strong
relationships to bring added benefits for our clients.
Mott MacDonald, along with other organisations including the
former UK Department of Trade & Industry, funded research to
provide guidance to help maritime designers optimise offshore jetty
designs.
The research culminated in a book (Piers, Jetties and Related
Structures Exposed to Waves Guidelines for Hydraulic Loadings by
Kirsty McConnell, William Allsop and Ian Cruickshank) which
provides new guidance on design principles and design wave loads
for exposed jetty structures – advice had not been previously
available. The book covers design wave conditions, predictions of
scour and vessel mooring loads and presents new methods for the
prediction of wave loading, including forces on the underside of
jetty decks.
