Thin Shell Precast Concrete Seadome Project
The Seadome Project in Thailand consists of modular thin shell precast concrete domes installed offshore to reduce wave energy and protect coastlines from erosion. Replacing conventional steel reinforcement with BarChip fibre allowed the concrete section to be reduced from 150 mm to 50 mm, significantly reducing concrete consumption while maintaining the long term durability required for a marine environment.
Project: Seadome Coastal Protection, Thailand
Owner: Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thailand
Designer: Prince of Songkla University
Structure: Thin Shell Precast Concrete Domes
Reinforcement: BarChip Macro Synthetic Fibre
Seadome Project Background
Developed by Prince of Songkla University and funded by Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Seadome Project uses specially designed thin shell precast concrete domes installed in rows parallel to the shoreline to:
- Reduce Wave Energy
- Facilitate the development of marine ecosystems
The dome geometry was refined through predictive modelling and physical testing in a wave flume. The combined results were used to optimise the final dome design and verify its hydraulic performance.
Thin Shell Precast Domes
The final Seadome design consists of a hollow, perforated concrete dome on a hexagonal base for stability and is manufactured in three sizes; small, medium and large.
The units were manufactured by The Concrete Product and Aggregate Company Thailand in accordance with The Coastal Engineering Manual (CEM 2002) of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The dome is cast-on-site using a steel mould and placed using a crane on a floating barge.
Due to the highly corrosive marine environment, conventional steel reinforcement was replaced with BarChip macro synthetic fibres. Removing the need for concrete cover to protect steel reinforcement allowed the concrete shell thickness to be reduced from 150 mm to 50 mm without increasing the risk of damage during handling and installation. The resulting reduction in material use lowered concrete consumption, embodied carbon and construction cost while maintaining long-term structural performance.
