Use of FRP and Seawater Sea-Sand Concrete for a Mock-up Frame

A mock-up frame demonstrating the use of FRP and seawater sea-sand concrete (SSC) was completed on Guishan Island, Zhuhai.

A three-storey FRP-SSC mock-up frame was constructed on Guishan Island, Zhuhai, serving as a marine exposure platform. The frame has a length of 3.7 m, a width of 2 m, and a height of 7.8 m. Within this frame, the team integrated and demonstrated a suite of developed technologies, including a self-compacting SSC mix design, novel FRP products (e.g., hybrid FRP rebars, FRP-coated rebars), novel FRP-SSC structural elements (columns, beams, and slabs), and novel structural health monitoring smart sensors and data transmission technologies. The frame has maintained stable operation throughout the construction and service phases, meeting expected technical specifications. It offers an innovative solution for achieving long-term, corrosion-free operation of offshore structures.

Figure. Mock-up frame: (a) concrete cast; (b) on-site installation; and (c) sensors and monitoring system.