Chapter Eight - Repair of marine and underwater composite structures

Abstract

Composite materials are increasingly used for structural components in a broad range of engineering sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and marine. The usability of composite materials for primary structures in harsh environmental conditions has been continuously growing due to their several promising characteristics. High specific mechanical properties, insensitive to fatigue loading, and excellent corrosion resistance of composite materials are particularly promising for long-term structural applications. However, the composite materials are vulnerable to environmental decay, especially in the marine environment, as they have to encounter severe environmental conditions during their service life. Therefore, composite repair has become a hot topic among scientists and researchers worldwide in recent years. This chapter intends to discuss the various damages and water absorption of composite structures in the marine environment. Furthermore, the durability of the composite structures in the marine environment and their repair strategy are clearly presented.