REINFORCEKiT® STRUCTURE, Handrails – Africa
Composite solution for structural repair
Overview
The objective of the repairs performed in April 2023 by 3X ENGINEERING (3X) specialists was to reinforce several handrails damaged by severe corrosion leading to through-wall defects. The damaged structures are located on the deck of FPSO.
Results
This project is a new application of this kind showing the versatility of 3X products and 3X experience in the repair and reinforcement of structural tubes. The job was quickly and successfully completed. The handrail is now secured and reinforced for 20-year minimum.
 Defect type |
Corroded structures |
Details |
Handrails on FPSO |
Location |
Africa |
3X Product type |
REINFORCEKIT® STRUCTURE |
SCOPE OF WORK
The repairs were made by 3X specialists following 4 main steps:
- Surface preparation and cleaning: The surface preparation was performed on either side of the defect. It was completed using Bristle Blaster® machine to get a good surface roughness (at least 60-micron surface profile) and ensure the good bonding of the composite materials. Then the surface was cleaned with acetone.
- Steel plate and filler application: Steel plate, previously cut and curved to fit with the specific geometry of the structure, was installed on the defected area of the tube and fixed using 3X filler.
- Composite wrapping reinforcement: Composite reinforcement was then performed around the tube. Considering the design of the support and the defect location, only two layers of Kevlar® tape impregnated with 3X epoxy resin, for a total repair length of 30cm were necessary to repair the structure. Compression plastic film was wrapped to smooth the repair before coating application.
- Final coating application for protection: After plastic removal, the repair was finally recovered with a specific coating for protection against UV and for good-looking.
