Tiecell Blocks

01 Performance Principles

• Separate blocks are moved up and down, left and right underwater to be interlocked as a unified structure.

• A caisson breakwater ensures outstanding safety, but as a heavy structure, demands high costs of production, lifting and installing.

• This method is a source technique that can be applied to every marine structure from small fishing ports to large container berths.

02 Performance Improvement

• Tiecell blocks are moved and interlocked underwater, ensuring high stability against waves. They can be interlocked in various shapes unlike existing breakwaters.

• There may occur slight errors when tiecell blocks are manufactured or installed underwater. The solutions to such errors are as follows:

- Rebar net columns are made to be 30% smaller than the lattice holes.

- A penetrating interlocking body is designed to be 30% lager in diameter than that in the structure review so as to ensure structural stability regardless of construction errors.

- As shown in the figure, the rebar net columns, designed to be 30% smaller than the lattice holes, can be embedded even though there are errors in production or construction. A protection against seawater is attached against the side by side pressure, interlocking firmly the blocks.

/ Flow Chart of Tiecell Blocks Installation

① After a groundwork, second-layer blocks are placed on the first-layer in an interlocking pattern.

② Third-layer blocks are installed on the second layer in an interlocking pattern.

③ When the block installation is finished, the riprap area is filled with rock.

④ Rebar net columns covered with waterproof membranes are embedded in the columns and concreted, and cap concrete is laid.

03 Economic Efficiency

• Compared to tetrapods (TTPs), less space and fewer blocks are required, which makes it economical.

• Small blocks are fabricated on land and interlocked underwater, so ensuring economic efficiency and the stability of the caisson method.

4. Structure Stability

(a)  Total Stress Distribution of Tiecell-Turning wave Block system applied Tiecell block method 

(b)   Distribution on 1st layer Block of Tiecell-Turning wave Block system applied Tiecell block method

(c) Stress Distribution on 2nd layer Block of Tiecell-Turning wave Block system applied Tiecell block method

(d) Stress Distribution on Cap concrete of Tiecell-Turning wave Block system applied Tiecell block method

(e) Stress Distribution on pile of Tiecell of Tiecell-Turning wave Block system applied Tiecell block method

Result: Stress Distribution of Tiecell-Turning Wave Block system on 0% for reduction ratio of wave pressure(column of Tiecell)

                                (a)                                                                (b)

                                (c)                                                                 (d)

                               (e)

05 Paradigm Shift

06 Applications

• The blocks allow a wide range of applications from small fishing ports to large container berths.

• They can be interlocked underwater with small equipment and remain stable against high waves and hurricanes, etc.

• It is the method that is able to reinforce a coastal structure most cost-effectively.