Complex welds in the joint region reduce the fatigue resistance of structural joints of circular hollow sections with factors that results in increased wall thicknesses of the tubes and overspending of steel in the multi-membered part of the jacket and floating support structures for offshore wind turbines. The wrapped composite joint is a breakthrough technology utilising bonding and fatigue resistant composite material to connect steel tubular members instead of welding. The main technical advantage is that the superior fatigue life of wrapped composite joints. Full-scale wrapped composite joint is tested by cyclic out-of-plane bending loading in resonance-based Cronos testing rig at OCAS N.V. in Belgium. Results reveal exceptional fatigue life of wrapped joints to combined loading when compared to welded joints, showcasing a potential that can radically reduce steel use for offshore structures.

One of the potentially most significant ways of decreasing emissions at airport is by towing the aircraft on the ground instead of using its main engines. In this paper we will give a high level overview of what the potential average and marginal fuel savings and impact on emissions is for some of the larger airports in Europe and the US. Especially for large hub airports, the savings are significant and are very likely more than enough to make the benefit of fuel saved outweigh the investment and cost of operating a fleet of towing vehicles.