Structural Response and Durability Optimisation of Fibre-Reinforced Polymer Composites in Marine Environments

Assessment Brief: MNE4001-A – Advanced Marine Structures

Module: MNE4001 Advanced Marine Structures
Assessment Title: Assessment 2: Research Paper on the Structural Response of Composite Materials in Marine Environments
Weighting: 60%
Submission Date: 17th March 2025
Word Count: 4000 words (±10%)

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this assessment, you will be able to:

1. Critically analyse the mechanical properties and failure modes of composite materials used in marine construction.

2. Evaluate the long-term structural performance of composite marine structures under complex loading and environmental degradation.

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3. Synthesise current research to propose a novel application or a design improvement for a composite marine component.

Task:
You are required to produce a research paper that investigates a specific aspect of the use of fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites in marine structures. Your paper must go beyond a simple literature review to present a critical analysis and a forward-looking perspective. You should:

• Select a specific marine structure or component (e.g., ship hull panel, tidal turbine blade, offshore piping system, unmanned surface vessel hull).

• Critically review the relevant literature concerning the performance of FRP composites in this application, focusing on at least two of the following factors: hydrostatic pressure, fatigue loading, impact resistance, or seawater ageing.

• Identify a current research gap or a limitation in the existing application (e.g., susceptibility to delamination, joint failures, biofouling effects on structural integrity, recycling challenges).

• Propose and justify a conceptual design modification, a novel material hybridisation (e.g., with nanomaterials or natural fibres), or a new manufacturing technique intended to address the identified limitation.

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Referencing:
The Harvard referencing system must be used consistently and correctly throughout the paper. A minimum of 15 credible academic sources is expected, a significant proportion of which should be from peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years.

1. He, W., Wang, J., Wang, C., Wang, J., Deng, B. & Liu, W. (2022) ‘Experimental and numerical investigation on the ultimate strength of a composite sandwich T-joint for marine structures’, Ocean Engineering, 266, 112787.

2. Li, H., Yang, W., Li, L., Wang, R. & Ou, J. (2021) ‘Damage detection of marine composite structures using PZT-based debonding diagnosis system’, Composite Structures, 274, 114352.

3. Pemberton, R., Sienz, J., Šekularac, I., Summerscales, J. & Evans, A. (2021) ‘A review of the design and materials considerations for the development of high-performance small vessel composite hulls’, Journal of Composite Materials, 55(26), pp. 3927-3954.

4. Raji, M., Nekhlaoui, S., Essabir, H., Moumen, A.E., Bensalah, M.O., Bouhfid, R. & Qaiss, A. (2024) ‘A comparative study of the effect of the hybrid fibers on the mechanical and thermal properties of polyester and epoxy composite pipes for marine application’, Polymer Composites, 45(1), pp. 854-869.

5. Van Lancker, B., Yudhanto, A., Goutham, S., Prasad, S.S., Gorbatikh, L. & Lomov, S.V. (2023) ‘The role of fibre waviness on the hydrostatic implosion strength of thin-walled composite cylinders: An experimental and numerical study’, Composites Part B: Engineering, 264, 110913.