A&M Course Allows Time On Dredge Simulator

The Texas A&M Cutter Suction Dredge Simulator short course attracted nine participants from dredging companies this year. The course was held January 19 through 21.

Participants included Mike Bishop and Eric Griffin of Infrastructure Alternatives; Jason P. Breaux Shane Harris James Price and Greg Walker of Weeks Marine; Dave Compton and Jason Wampler of Associated Terminals of Galveston; and Robert Panter of Western Dredge & Supply Co.

Course instructors are Peter deJong president of Digital Automation and Control Systems and Dr. R. E. Randall Director of the Center for Dredging Studies at Texas A&M University.

The course demonstrates the fundamentals of hydraulic dredging using a cutter suction dredge that include cavitation deposition of sediment in the pipeline pipeline length limitations pump power limitations different sediments such as fine sand medium sand and stiff clay channel currents and swing winch limitations.
A 24 inch spud carriage and fixed spud dredge were simulated in this year’s course but other size dredges can be modeled. Three simulators interface actual controls for a cutter suction dredge to a personal computer and each participant spends approximately 30 minutes on the simulator for each of five exercises.

The next simulator course will be January 18 through 20 2010.