DeepC3000 – first deployment of a pressure housing made of UHPC for depths up to 3,000 m on a deep-sea mission using a carrier frame made of carbon reinforced concrete

In the DeepCsolution research project partners from industry and science are working on the development of innovative, noncorrosive high-pressure housings for marine applications. The pressure housing developed in the project was integrated into an observation mooring and tested during a demonstration mission. A suitable carrier frame had to be developed for the transport of the pressure housing as well as the installation of the scientific payload. For this, a novel carrier frame made of carbon reinforced concrete (CRC) was designed and constructed, aiming at a simpler and more cost-effective production compared to conventional frame constructions made of titanium or stainless steel. Based on the geometrical and transport-related requirements, which result from the dimensions of the pressure housing, the planned deployment depth, the environmental conditions, different load scenarios and safety concepts were taken into account, to develop the optimal carrier frame for long-term deep-sea operations. After dimensioning the carrier frame using FEM and checking the calculated load-bearing capacity in a structural test, the carrier frame was set up as long-term deep-sea mooring to monitor the seafloor with underwater cameras for the first demonstration mission at 2,500 m water depth.