Marine infrastructure worldwide faces critical challenges, from rapid deterioration caused by steel corrosion to the growing scarcity of freshwater and river sand needed for concrete. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) researchers have reshaped how marine structures are built for long-term resilience and sustainability.
By replacing steel with Fiber‑Reinforced Polymer (FRP) and using seawater and sea‑sand concrete (SSC), the research team has developed a new class of FRP‑SSC structures. These structures provide superior durability while significantly reducing energy consumption and environmental impact during construction.
Prof. TENG Jin‑Guang, President of PolyU and Prof. Tao YU, Professor of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering of PolyU successively led this project on FRP-SSC structures. Prof. Teng initiated the project and led the project during the initial stage (January 2019 to March 2020), while Prof. Yu took over from Prof. Teng as the Project Coordinator during the remaining period until December 2024, when Prof. Teng served as the Advisory Project Coordinator.
The PolyU team also developed ultra‑strong seawater sea‑sand concrete with compressive strength exceeding 180 MPa, ensuring long-term robustness in harsh marine environments. This research is driving a sustainable transformation of marine engineering towards a greener, more efficient, and more resilient future.
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