Light-weight high-performance concrete for modular floating structures (LITEFLOATCON)

Building an international multidisciplinary research partnership for light-weight high-performance concrete (LWHPC)
Coast of sandy beach with fields and lagoon
Project title: Light-weight high-performance concrete for modular floating structures (LITEFLOATCON)
Funding amount: €611,800
Location: Aarhus University (Denmark)
Project duration: 1 January 2024 – 31 December 2027
Project partners: Northumbria University (UK); Universidad de Castilla – La Mancha (Spain); University College Cork (Ireland); Oslo Metropolitan University (Norway); University of Plymouth (UK); Monash University Malaysia (Malaysia); Phranakhon Rajabhat University (Thailand)
University of Plymouth staff: Dr Shanshan Cheng
 
LITEFLOATCON aims to build an international and intersectoral partnership for high-quality research and development in innovative light-weight high-performance concrete (LWHPC) and its application on multi-purpose modular floating structures for coastal space utilisation.
To achieve this ambition, LITEFLOATCON brings along a multi-disciplinary team comprising 33 researchers from nine academic partners with complementary expertise.
 

Scientific objectives

  • Develop innovative LWHPC suitable for coastal applications
  • Investigate the influence of various additives on the rheological and mechanical properties
  • Assess the durability properties of LWHPC
  • Measuring the fatigue performance of LWHPC in various compositions developed
  • Develop a concept for novel modular floating structural units with optimised shape and size
  • Develop an easy-fit inter-modular connector
  • Examine the global and local structural and hydrodynamic performances of the modular floating units
  • Generate life-cycle analysis and performance-based design guidelines and recommendations.
 
The outcomes of LITEFLOATCON include long-term and sustainable international partnerships that enhance the quality of research towards a modular floating LWHPC system with verified system design, material durability and structural safety, and an analysis and assessment framework for social and environmental impacts.
These contribute to the development of next-generation coastal structures, to improved scientific knowledge of material and structural behaviour in harsh marine environments, to design standardisation of the offshore industry, and to Europe's climate and sustainability goals.
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