5 Amazing Underwater Structures: How Underwater Construction Works
With the earth’s population continuing to soar, buildings have been growing higher and higher. Dense cities are dotted with cranes constructing new, magnificent skyscrapers. What if the future of cities is not further up toward the sky, but deep down in the ocean?
Humans have explored underwater construction for many years, and construction techniques already exist for creating underwater structures and underwater buildings. Although the only cities currently underwater are those that were submerged over time, plans for underwater cities of the future are already being considered.
These plans are not as far-fetched as they sound, and some underwater restaurants and resorts already exist around the world. To really appreciate these impressive feats, it is helpful to learn more about the construction techniques that make underwater building possible.
Read on to learn about:
- The challenges involved in building underwater
- Which materials are best suited to underwater buildings
- What techniques are used in underwater construction
- Several examples of underwater structures
- Ideas about the future of underwater cities
You can also jump straight to our infographic to learn about underwater construction.
Challenges of Building Underwater
Building on land can be difficult, but building underwater presents even more unique challenges.
Some of these challenges include:
- Finding suitable materials: Many of the materials we use frequently on land—like wood—simply are not suitable for long-term underwater use.
- Dealing with water pressure: Both during construction and over the life of a structure, the effects of water pressure play a pivotal role.
- Managing corrosion: Undersea projects in coastal environments must take into account the corrosive effects of saltwater.
Impressively, some ancient civilizations figured out how to overcome these obstacles using adequate materials and simple methods of underwater construction to build supporting pillars for bridges over rivers.
Materials Used in Underwater Construction
When building in water, materials must be used that can withstand a variety of complications, including water pressure, corrosion, and erosion.
The most common materials used in underwater construction include:
- Concrete: A special variety of concrete used underwater is able to set quickly despite water currents and fares well in salt water.
- Steel: Steel, typically enclosed by concrete, forms a strong structure for underwater buildings.
- Acrylic Glass: Resistant to sunlight, durable, and fairly rigid, acrylic plastics are well-suited to underwater construction. Since it is transparent, acrylic glass is used for underwater windows.
With the right materials, construction companies are ready to use a variety of construction methods that make it possible to create impressive underwater structures.
Methods of Underwater Construction
Several major techniques have evolved over the years that enable construction companies and construction workers to build in bodies of water both large and small.
Some of the most important underwater construction methods include:
- Caissons
- Cofferdams
- Driven piles
- Off-site building, float and lower
Interestingly, all of these “underwater construction” methods have the same underlying goal: avoid building underwater. Instead, water is diverted or avoided in various ways during construction—an essential approach because it is nearly impossible to actually build in water. Thus, “building underwater” is more about finding creative ways to work around water and make structures that can withstand it after construction is completed.
.