Undersea Gasket Breaks Down Faster Than 100-Year Designs Predicted
A study of the GINA gasket used in immersed tunnels finds that sealing pressure declines by about 67% over a century when subjected to real-world compression and seawater, while the rubber hardens and loses elasticity—particularly at the lower edge—narrowing the safety margin and suggesting maintenance schedules based on older models may be inadequate, though the seals still meet a minimum threshold.