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Contenu archivé le 2022-12-27

WET WELDING FOR STRUCTURAL REPORT

Objectif

The aim of this project is to develop the necessary technology (equipment, consumables and techniques) for successfully using Wet Welding as a repair technique for both mild steel and high yield structures down to depths of at least 100-125 msw.
Present technology limits the use of Wet Welding for structural applications on high yield steel to depths of 5-10 msw and mild steel to depths of 20-25 msw. Although Wet Welding has been performed down to a depth of 170 msw, the quality obtained is currently not acceptable for structural repair work.
Initial results obtained both on the unmanned and manned tests are highly satisfactorily. They have confirmed that good quality welds can be made in the flat position on mild steel at 100 msw using the COMEX/GKSS developed technology. More work is required for out-of-flat welding high yield steels.
The programme originally consisted of 2 phases :
Phase 1
Development of consumables, equipment and procedures in unmanned and limited manned "onshore" tests. Determination of the maximum depth to which good quality welds can be made using the consumables etc. . . which will be developed during the programme.
Phase 2
Verify and confirm the developed technology during a full size simulation of major offshore structural repairs in operational conditions. Demonstrate the validity of Wet Welding for repairing both mild steel and high yield steel structures down to the maximum depth identified during Phase 1.
The EEC has confirmed approval for co-financing Phase 1.
The detailed programme for Phase 1 consists of :
- bead on plate tests at ever increasing depths using an unmanned simulator at GKSS. Tests will be performed using equipment and consumables developed by both COMEX and GKSS. The results of the tests will be used to improve both equipment and consumables;
- single pass and multipass groove and fillet weld tests in the flat position using the unmanned simulator. The results will be used to optimise the chemical analysis of the electrodes and characteristics of the equipment.
- manned dive at a simulated depth corresponding to the maximum depth at which successful results were obtained during the unmanned trials. This dive will be used to produce test welds in non-flat positions (note that the unmanned simulator can only be used in the flat position).
At the end of this Phase, COMEX/GKSS will have developed and optimised consumables and equipment for use at the maximum depth and would have proven the validity of this technique on small size coupons in simulated conditions.
The following Phase 2 would allow the above results to be fully tested on full size structural compoments in operational conditions.

Appel à propositions

Data not available

Régime de financement

DEM - Demonstration contracts

Coordinateur

GKSS FORSCHUNGSZENTRUM GEESTHACHT GMBH
Contribution de l’UE
Aucune donnée
Adresse
MAX PLANCK STRASSE
21 502 GEESTHACHT
Allemagne

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Coût total
Aucune donnée