From August 17 to August 18, 2023, the 4th International Symposium for Emerging Researchers in Composites for Infrastructure (ISERCI 2023) was held at Western Sydney University in Australia. ISERCI is an official event of the International Center for Composites in Infrastructure (ICCI) and it invited renowned international experts, scholars, as well as numerous researchers, engineers, and graduate students in the field of composite materials and composite structures. Prof. Peng Feng, Principal Investigator of NEXCEL 2023 Ph.D project "CFRP Prestressed Concrete Assembled Floating Structure like Bamboo Raft" and Chongfeng Xie, Ph.D student, attended the conference and delivered a presentation titled “Novel Prestressed Concrete Assembled Floating Structure like Bamboo Raft”.
To enhance construction efficiency in offshore engineering and extend the service life of offshore platforms, a novel concrete assembled Very Large Floating Structure（VLFS） inspired by bamboo rafts, a traditional Chinese transport, is proposed in this paper.
In this concept, longitudinal bamboos are replaced with concrete pipes, and transverse bamboos are replaced with connecting concrete beams. Corrosion-resistant FRP composites are utilized to improve the structural lifespan. Compared to traditional VLFS, the new structure offers the following advantages:
1. High design flexibility: Small-sized modules allow for diverse shapes and sizes to be designed. The structure can be easily expanded or reinforced locally using filament winding to meet specific utilization requirements.
2. Excellent durability: The main load-bearing components eliminate the need for steel, thereby prolonging the service life and reducing maintenance costs. Additionally, the modularization of concrete pipes enables convenient recycling.
3. Reduced crack control requirements: By separating stress and sealing demands, the design becomes easier and safety is improved. Concrete pipes serve as load-bearing elements, while bellows function as sealed buoyancy elements. This eliminates the need for floating structures to ensure sealing performance, even under extreme loading conditions.
4. High construction efficiency: The production method for concrete pipes is well-established and efficient, allowing for mass production. Furthermore, concrete pipes can be transported by trains or vessels and swiftly installed in docks or offshore locations.