Investigation of the characteristics of the deep-water silty base of the ferromanganese nodules collection unit

The article considers methods, instruments and equipment for laboratory and field studies of bottom soils of the Clarion-Clipperton region of the Pacific Ocean. The characteristics of the physical and mechanical properties of the bottom sediments of the upper part of the first (cover) engineering and geological complex are presented. The features of deformation of the bottom soil under load are revealed. A general view is shown and the design parameters of a model sample of a deep-water unit for collecting ferromanganese nodules are presented. A design scheme for transferring the load from the unit to the base has been compiled. The type of equation of state of the bottom soil for the condition of placing the unit on the bottom is chosen. The dimensions of the crawler track of the unit are determined. The prediction of the deformation of the water-saturated clay base of the aggregate was carried out using the methods of the theory of linear deformation of the soil.