Management Committee Meeting on the Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS)

Project “Sustainable Marine Infrastructure Enabled by the Innovative Use of

Seawater Sea-Sand Concrete and Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites”

Date: 28 July 2022 (Thursday)

Time: 19:30 - 22:10

Venue: Online meeting via Zoom

Meeting Minutes

Prepared by Dr. Yu XIANG

Team members in attendance

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: Prof. Jin-Guang Teng, Prof. Tao Yu,

Prof. Chi-Sun Poon, Prof. Yi-Qing Ni, Prof. Jian-Guo Dai, Prof. Yong Xia, Dr.

Ming-Feng Kai, Dr. Michael C.W. Chan, Dr. Yu Xiang & Mr. Yan-Jie Sun

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: Prof. Christopher Leung

University of Macau: Prof. Zong-Jin Li

City, University of London: Prof. Tong Sun

City University of Hong Kong: Dr. Denvid Lau

CCCC Fourth Harbour Engineering Institute Co., Ltd.: Dr. Zhi-Hong Fan

Agenda

Time

Item

Presenter

19:30 – 20:00

Overview

Prof. Yu

20:00 – 20:35

Brief report & discussion of Task 1

Prof. Poon

20:35 – 20:50

Brief report & discussion of Task 2

Prof. Yu

20:50 – 21:20

Brief report & discussion of Task 3

Prof. Sun

21:20 – 21:45

Brief report & discussion of Task 4

Prof. Leung and Dr Lau

21:45 – 22:00

Brief report & discussion of Task 5

Prof. Dai

22:00 – 22:10

Further discussion and AOB

All

Presentations and discussions

 Overview

1. Prof. Tao Yu welcomed the attendees and gave a brief update on the overall

progress of the project. Prof. Yu highlighted the following in the report: (1) the

submission of a request to RGC for postponement of the submission of the

Stage 4 progress report and extension of the whole project duration, due to the

COVID 19 pandemic; (2) the deliverables not fully achieved in Stages 1 to 3;

(3) the deliverables to be achieved in Stage 4; (4) the updates of demonstration

projects, the mock-up frame and field exposure tests.

2. Prof. Teng and Prof. Yu discussed about the delay of project progress caused

by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly on the accelerated and field exposure

tests, the mock-up frame, the demonstration projects and some laboratory tests.

3. Prof. Ni asked about the time to start the fourth series of exposure tests. Prof.

Yu responded that his team is currently preparing for the tests and plans to

complete the preparation of test specimens in October 2022.

4. Prof. Ni asked about the preferred sensors for the field exposure tests. Prof. Yu

suggested that all types of novel sensors developed in Task 3 and suitable for

use in real concrete may be considered.

5. Prof. Ni asked about the location to demonstrate the wireless sensing system.

Prof. Yu suggested one ongoing demonstration project in Hong Kong, in which

Prof. Jian-Nong Cao’s wireless sensing system can be installed to transform

the data of Prof. Song-Ye Zhu’ PZT-based smart aggregates.

6. Prof. Li suggested performing accelerated exposure tests in parallel with the

field exposure tests. Prof. Dai responded that some accelerated exposure tests

have been conducted and more will be conducted by his team at PolyU.

7. Prof. Li asked about the measures taken to replicate the field environmental

conditions. Prof. Dai stated that measures will be taken in the fourth series of

tests after a large environmental chamber is installed at PolyU.

 Task 1: presented by Prof. Poon

1. Prof. Poon reported the progress of Task 1.

2. Prof. Poon stated that his group has optimized Gammon’s Mix C55 by

adjusting the particle size of aggregates, to accommodate the casting of paving

panels with complex surface geometry.

3. Prof. Poon’s team is working on optimization of the concrete mix with the

target of producing concrete with enhanced sustainability and lower pH values.

The strategies include adding glass powder, GGBS and nano-materials

together with the adjustment of the particle size of aggregates.

4. Prof. Yu suggested the group provide more evidence regarding how to relate

the microscale studies to the macroscale behaviours. Prof. Poon stated that his

team has been using molecular dynamics (MD) analyses to correlate the

observations made at the micro- and macro- scales.

5. Prof. Teng asked about the conclusions on the durability of SSC. Prof. Poon

responded that the durability of SSC is marginally inferior to that of freshwater

river-sand concrete based on their research outcomes.

 Task 2: presented by Prof. Yu

1. Prof. Yu reported the progress of Task 2.

2. Prof. Li asked if the group has considered the stiffness reduction of FRP-SSC

structures as FRPs have lower elastic moduli than steel. Prof. Yu responded

that the group has been aware of this concern because the design of FRP-

reinforced beams and slabs is most often controlled by the serviceability

limited state (SLS).

 Task 3: presented by Prof. Sun

1. Prof. Sun reported the progress of Task 3.

2. Prof. Yu asked about the hybrid monitoring system mentioned in Deliverable

11. Profs. Sun and Ni explained that the hybrid monitoring system is a

combination of various sensing techniques (e.g., Prof. Sun and Ni’s optical

fibre sensors and Prof. Song-Ye Zhu’ PZT-based smart aggregates) and data

transmission systems (e.g., Prof. Jian-Nong Cao’s wireless system).

 Task 4: presented by Prof. Leung and Dr. Lau

1. Prof. Leung and Dr. Lau reported the progress of Task 4.

2. Prof. Yu suggested that the test data from the existing studies (e.g., the work

done by Prof. Brahim Benmokrane) may be used to calibrate the degradation

model for FRP rebars.

3. Profs. Dai and Leung and Dr. Lau discussed the development of degradation

models for the interfacial bond between FRP rebars and SSC.

 Task 5: presented by Prof. Dai

1. Prof. Dai reported the progress of Task 5.

2. Prof. Dai stated that the installation of the large environmental chamber is

expected to be completed by September this year.

3. Profs. Yu and Dai discussed about the results of accelerated exposure tests that

have been completed. Prof. Yu suggests that these test results should be used

as a reference for designing future tests.

 Prof. Yu and Dr. Fan discussed the plan of the mock-up frame, and the collaboration

between team members.

Action items

 Prof. Poon’s team will conduct a plant trial with an optimized SSC mix aimed at

producing concrete with enhanced sustainability and a lower pH value.

 Prof. Yu’s team will continue cooperating with Profs. Poon, Ni and Sun’s teams in an

ongoing demonstration project on FRP-SSC paving panels.

 Profs. Ni and Sun’s teams will calibrate the optical fibre-based sulphate and chloride

sensors in real concrete.

 Prof. Dai’s team will complete the installation of the environmental chamber at PolyU

by September this year and will start the fourth series of accelerated exposure tests

shortly after that.

 Prof. Yu’s team will follow up with Dr. Fan’s team on the mock-up frame.

Management Committee Meeting (28 July 2022)