WORLDWIDE OVERVIEW OF COMPOSITE APPLICATIONS FOR WATERWAY INFRASTRUCTURE

摘要

Navigational structures using fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composites have recently been designed, manufactured and installed in the United States of America, the Netherlands, Spain, China, and several other countries. This paper is aimed at summarizing the state of the art of FRP composites for hydraulic structures including design, construction, evaluation and repair. Emphasis is placed on successful applications of composites in waterfront, marine, navigational structures including lock doors, gates, and flood protection systems. Design of FRP hydraulic structures is specifically illustrated herein with FRP slide doors that serve as barriers to protect the area from the North Sea flooding in Netherlands. Use of composites, in general, not only enhances service life of navigational structures, but also lowers the embodied energy and even initial cost in some cases; thus partially fulfilling carbon footprint reduction goals of the Paris agreement.