December 2016 No.75

IDIInfrastructure

Japanese Infrastructure Newsletter

Development

Institute—JAPANCONTENTS
The 18th Infrastructure Technology Development Award 2016
Ultra-high-strength Fiber reinforced Concrete (UFC) Cured at Normal Temperature "SLIM-Crete"2

The development of the flap gate type land locks

4

Short Stroke Seismic Isolation System for Urban Buildings

6Infrastructure Development Institute – Japan (IDI)
Suido-cho Bldg, 3-1, Suido-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 162-0811, JAPAN
Tel: +81-3-5227-4107 Fax: +81-3-5227-4109 E-Mail: idi17@idi.or.jp Website: http://www.idi.or.jp/english/00index.htm

Infrastructure Development Institute - JapanThe 18th Infrastructure Technology Development Award 2016
The Japan Institute of Country-ology andThe grand prize is“Ultra-high-strength FiberEngineering (JICE) was established as a public

reinforced Concrete (UFC) Cured at Normalinterest corporation to promote construction

Temperature（SLIM-Crete）”.

engineering in Japan by conducting cutting-edge
research and development activities.

And the two excellence prizes were awarded toAs more incentives should be provided for“The development of the flap gate type land

construction technology researchers and researchlocks（Seawalls which rises by buoyancy when

institutes to enhance the level of construction

flooded by the tsunami and storm surges）”andengineering more effectively, JICE commenced“ Short Stroke Seismic Isolation System for

Infrastructure Technology Development Award

Urban Buildings （Development and Application

with Coastal Development Institute of Technology

of Passive-Switching Oil Damper）”.

(CDIT) under the auspices of the Ministry of Land,
Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism(MLIT).

The grand prize and two excellence prizes areintroduced below.

Twenty-eight technologies competed for the18thInfrastructure

TechnologyDevelopmentAward.
In principle, the applicants’ technologies shouldFor any inquiries/ comments please contact
JICE :
Homepage: http://www.jice.or.jp/

have been developed within the past five years(Japanese version only)

and applied to the real sites within the past three

E-Mail: webmaster@jice.or.jp

years.
As a result of examination, institutes andresearchers with the following technologies wereawarded 18th prizes.

December 2016 No.75
1Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Ultra-high-strength Fiber reinforced Concrete (UFC) Cured at Normal Temperature "SLIM-Crete"
1. Background of Technology Development
Ultra-high-strength

Fiber-reinforced

Ultra-high-strength mortar

Concrete+ Ultra-high-strength steel fiber(UFC) has a compressive strength of more than
150N/mm2 and a splitting tensile strength of morethan 5 N/mm2. Its durability is assessed at 100 years.
However, conventional UFC requires hot steam
curing at 90℃, which limits its applicability to factory
production. This paper describes a UFC that hardens

Compressive strength：180N/mm2

at normal temperatures, which has been developed forTensile strength：8.8N/mm2

site construction.

2. Detailed Description of the Technology
The developed UFC uses cement with a lot of alite

Figure 1 Constituent materials and strength characteristics

4. Effect of the technology
Compressive strengths 7.5 times higher thaningredients and pozzolanic material. UFC produced

that of normal concrete and tensile strengths

from mix proportions of these materials possesses

more than 3 times higher can be achieved,high densification, strength and durability.

which can reduce the cross-section of aThis UFC can be produced at ready-mixed concrete

structure by about 1/2. Thus, pillars, beams,plants or automotive-type plants, enabling site

foundations, piles, etc., can be made smaller

construction. High-strength steel fiber was added toand lighter.

the high-strength mortar and a compressive strength

Fluidity of constituents can reduce buildingof more than 180 N/mm2 and a tensile strength ofcosts, making it possible to design a structure

more than 8.8 N/mm2 were achieved (Figure 1).

with a free shape without the need for rebars,
thus reducing construction and labor costs

3. Technological coverage
This material is needed for structures ingeneral and in particular for structures that
require weight saving and thin parts.
There is a need for structures with highdurability to salt water, neutralization, freezing
damage, wear, etc.

and increasing productivity.
The durability of the ingredients is extended
to 100 years, and maintenance is greatly
reduced. Thus, Life-Cycle Cost is about 50%
that of conventional reinforced concrete. This
also reduces maintenance and management
costs.
Transport of products is unnecessary andspecial curing equipment and heat energy
can be omitted. Equipment costs are reduced,
CO2 emissions are reduced by about 50%

December 2016 No.75
2Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

compared to those of conventional UFC, andenvironmental loads are reduced.

5. Expansibility of the technology
Thistechnology

canreducebuilding

andGirder height about 1/2

maintenance costs. The infrastructure stock can beimproved by improving its durability. Futureapplication to bridges and skyscrapers, etc. can beexpected because of its light weight.
A new shotcrete application method can be used

・Slim design
・Weight saving of a partwith this technology, resulting in a new construction
technology. This should contribute to increased

Photo 1 Example of interior pedestrian overpass

export of overseas infrastructures of railroads andsuspension bridges.

6. Technological application results
This technology was applied to 11 cases ofconstruction so far.
Technology developer: Obayashi Corporation
Joint developers: Ube Industries, Ltd.
Contact: Masumi Muto
Obayashi Corporation
E-Mail: muto.masumi@obayashi.co.jp

Figure 2 Curing condition and strength

TEL: +81-3-5769-1062
FAX: +81-3-5769-1984

December 2016 No.75

Figure 3 Comparison of a construction processes
3Infrastructure Development Institute - JapanThe development of the flap gate type land locks（Seawalls which rises by buoyancy when flooded by the tsunami and storm surges）
1. Background of Technology Development

We made the analysis of the interference caused at

We have already developed a flap-gate type ofthe time of gate standing, and the evaluation of

breakwater for tsunamis and surge waters since 2003.

hydraulic model experiments. Furthermore, weTaking advantage of it, we have started a flap-gate

drafted the risk avoidance methods including

type of land lock since 2009. The 2011 Great East

maintenance method. Then finally, our technology has

Japan Earthquake caused many of the casualties

been put to practical use with sufficient reliability.

from fire corps volunteers who tried to operate andclose gates against tsunami.

2. Detailed Description of the Technology

As a countermeasure, normally closed type and/orConstruction example of this technology shows in

the remote operation type of gates are effective. But

Photo 1, showing the operation mechanism in Figure

the normally closed type, which open/close gates each1.

time of passage, imposes a burden on a daily

Gate that has been installed on the seawall opening,operation. On the other hand, the remote operation

to automatically close the opening by turning standing

type which has a remote control system, is requiredwith the buoyancy and the aid by counterweights.

the burden of tremendous maintenance over the longterm.

In this technology, we could have both a strengthand lightness to the passing vehicle by placing a filler

In our technology, the gate closes the opening
automatically by using the buoyancy due to flooding.

material inside the Gate leaf. And by using thecounterweights as a braking force at the end of rising

If the gate opens absolutely at the time of floodingand the assist force at the start of rising, we had madewithout the remote control system and in normal time

it possible to improve the response characteristic in athere is no traffic obstruction, those aforementioned

very simple mechanism.

problems will be solved.

(See Figure 2).

Tokushima Prefecture Hiwasa Port (April, 2014)
Photo1

MUYA port coast Kuwashima Seto district (October, 2015)
Installation Record

December 2016 No.75
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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan< Start of rising ・ End of lying >Counter weights act to a rising direction of thegate. ⇒ It assists rising of the gate at the startof rising. ⇒ It applies a brake to the gate at theend of lying.

< End of rising ・ Start of lying >Counter weights act to a lying direction of thegate. ⇒ It applies a brake to the gate at theend of rising. ⇒ The gate lies gently withdrawdown.

Internal filler

Pull direction

Rising direction

Figure1

neo RiSe① Own weight +② Counter weights
Total overturning
momentRising assist device by counter weights

Floating flap gate for river
Overturning momentby own weight

Overturning moment＋Standing angle of flap gate [deg.]②Overturning moment by counter－3. Advantages of the technology

5. Installation Record

The key feature of this technology is shown below.

2014 MUYA port coast Kuwashima Seto district

・ Without that the operator is at risk, andlevee improvement work (Part 2), such as all 34

operational errors and operation forget, risk byGate (April 1, 2016)

the operation delay can be avoided.
・We do not have to close the gates before theTechnology Developer：HITACHI ZOSEN

tsunami. Therefor the opening can be used as

CORPORATION

escape route until the tsunami comes.

Contact・Maintenance is easy as compared to the remote
operationsystem,

andwecanreduce

maintenance burden significantly.

Toshiaki Morii , HITACHI ZOSENCORPORATION
E-Mail: morii@hitachizosen.co.jp ,TEL:+81-6-6569-0147

4. Applicability
・ Applying place: Seawalls opening and riverembankment opening (land locks as a tsunami
and storm surge protection)・Size: Width 1.25m - 15.0m , Height 0.5 m - 4.0m
(The following shows the production results. Also
applicable to larger size)
December 2016 No.755Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

Short Stroke Seismic Isolation System for Urban Buildings（Development and Application of Passive-Switching Oil Damper）
1. Background of Technology Development

2. Detailed Description of the Technology

Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, from theAs a short stroke seismic isolation system for urban

point of view of building functional maintenance andbuildings, the authors have solved the above problems

business continuity after the earthquake, the needs ofby

the seismic isolation building is increasing more and(certification number MVBR-0498, MVBR-0565)", inmore. However, in dense urban areas, from thewhich the damping force is switched from the lower toconstraint of the narrow site environment, thethe higher when the damper displacement exceeds

adoption of seismic isolation system that requires a

the designated level. In other words, for the

gap distance between building and retaining walls ofhigh-frequency small and medium-sized earthquakes,

about 600mm~700mm is often difficult, so thethis system demonstrates a sufficient seismic isolation

development of a technology for suppressing theeffect to contribute to business continuity by having

isolation story displacement has been strongly desired.

an appropriate lower damping force, while for a larger

In a conventional seismic isolation system, it isearthquake, it suppress the seismic isolation story

possible in principle to suppress the seismic isolation

displacement by switching to the higher damping

story displacement by increasing the damper amountforce to prevent the collision of the retaining wall andof seismic isolation story, but the damping force will

ensure the safety of the building. This damper

become excessive and the seismic isolation effect will

operates reliably at the time of the earthquake

not be obtained sufficiently for the high-frequency

because of the simple mechanism that does not

small and medium-sized earthquake, so the adoption

require a supply of energy such as electricity.

developing"Passive-Switching

OilDamperof the seismic isolation building have not proceed indense urban areas.

Small and Medium-sized Earthquake
Lower Damping Force▼
Isolation Performance
EnsuredBuilding

Oil
Bypass Pathway (Open)
Displacement Detection Groove
GroundLarger Earthquake
Higher Damping force▼Collision Prevention

Building

Oil
Bypass Pathway (Close)
Displacement Detection GrooveGroundDecember 2016 No.75

Fig.1 Mechanism of Passive-Switching Oil Damper
6Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

3. Advantages of the Technology

systems by switching to a larger damping force inWhile maintaining the seismic isolation effecta large earthquake. Accordingly, in dense urban

against small and medium-sized earthquakes,

areas which have given up the adoption of seismic

Passive-Switching Oil Damper enables to avoid aisolation

collision with a small gap distance between

business continuity after the earthquake whilebuiding and retaining walls than conventionaleffectively utilizing narrow sites.

system,this

Short-Stroke Seismic Shaking Width : Small Conventional Seismic
Isolation System Building Area : Large
Isolation System
gap distance 300 mm

Site
Boundary300 mm

Passive-Switching
Oil Damper
Rubber Bearing

systemenhance

theShaking Width : Large
Building Area : Small600 mm

gap distance 600mm

Site
Boundary

Conventional
Oil Damper
Rubber Bearing

Fig.2 Comparison of Short-stroke Seismic Isolation system and Conventional Seismic Isolation system

4. Applicability
Available to all of the seismic isolated building

technology

developableconstruction

andexistingtogeneralseismicnewisolation

including new construction, seismic isolationbuildings as a safety improvement technology

renovation of existing buildings (except for small

against the ground motion exceeding thedetached houses).

conventional design level.

5. Social Significance and Future Possibilitiesof the Technology

6. Installation Record

Passive-Switching Oil Damper is expected tocontribute significantly to the spread of seismic
isolationbuilding

indenseurban

areas,

Shinjuku

Ward Office main

governmentbuilding, seismic isolation renovation, April 2014
– November 2015. Applied to 2 others.

accordingly, the effect of improving the disasterprevention and the safety of the city is also
expected. This damper is a high potential

December 2016 No.75
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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan（a）Building Appearance
Fig.3 Applied building(b) Passive-Switching Oil Damper[Shinjuku Ward Office Main Government Building]Technology Developer: Taisei Corporation
Joint Developer: Kayaba System Machinery Corporation
Contact:
Ryota MASEKI, Dr.Eng.
Taisei Corporation
E-mail: ryota.maseki@sakura.taisei.co.jp
TEL: +81-4-5814-7233
FAX:+81-4-5814-7255

December 2016 No.75
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Infrastructure Development Institute - Japan

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December 2016 No.75
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