Recently, the first integrated testing system for mooring products under multi-physical field coupling in China, which is independently designed and developed by CSSRC's Surface Ship Structures Lab, was officially put into operation and the first test was conducted successfully. The testing system is applicable to the verification and assessment of cable mooring products, through testing which in the coupling effect of working load, wind load, water flow, temperature and salinity, with the aim to examine the dynamic water-tightness performance of the products and avoid corrosion failure due to environmental factors during service.
Cable mooring products are widely used in ocean engineering, civil engineering, road and bridge construction attributed to good bearing capacity. However, mooring cables or cable-stayed cables are exposed to complex environment. Taking the Hongkong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge as an example, the cables of the bridge are immersed in seawater for long or exposed to rainy, humid and hot environment. They are in alternating stress state for a long time under extreme conditions such as wind, wave, typhoon, cyclic heavy load and so on. Cracks or fractures frequently occur which threatens the structures' safety. Therefore, it is particularly essential to evaluate the mechanical properties of cable structures under their actual working conditions. However, the cable structure testing system which meet this requirement was not available in China yet. CSSRC's Surface Ship Structures Laboratory, aiming at this market demand, designed and developed an integrated testing system for mooring cable products under the effect of multi-physical field coupling based on overseas' standards and specifications and customer requirements. They tackled key technologies such as lateral wind load simulation technology in axial heavy load, control technology in multi-field coupling load and external temperature cycle control technology. Their innovative design of reaction frame undertaking mechanism not only improves the installation efficiency in the test, but also elevates the automation of the whole system, reducing manpower requirements during testing campaign. The first test is being carried out smoothly in the laboratory. Through this test, we established the dynamic water tightness test method, and will set up standard test procedures.
Through the development and testing campaigns of this testing system, the laboratory engineers cultivated abilities and experiences in large-scale testing systems' development. Besides, we improve the design and development ability of laboratory test equipment, and expanded the laboratory service. In addition, we formed integrated test technologies in cable mooring products under multi-field coupling, expanded our testing scope, and enhanced the competitiveness and popularity of the laboratory. This has brought us potential contracts worth nearly one million from domestic customers. At present, CSSRC Surface Ship Structures Lab, based on its professional advantages, is actively expanding business and strive to elevate itself under the guidance of new thinking in the new era.
