ADVANCED MATERIALS AND DESIGN PROCEDURES FOR LARGE SIZE AND STRUCTURES

Objective

Nowadays there is a general need to transport passengers, car and cargoes at reasonable costs and high speed through the sea. The most attractive type of high speed vessels seems to be the Surface Effect Ship (S.E.S.). Up to now only small and medium size S.E.S. have been put in service for military and passengers transportation purposes but there is a growing interest in large size S.E.S.(length over 150 m and displacements around 5000 toms) capable of speed over 50 Kn with passengers, cars and cargo capabilities. The structures of a large size S.E.S. have in the lightness a strong requirement besides strength and stiffness. In fact the hull needs not only to be propelled at a certain velocity but also to be sustained on a air cushion in order to reduce the hydrodynamic resistance. The great difference between the dimensions of these large size ships and the existing S.E.S. does not allow both to apply usual methodologies and criteria for structural analysis of smaller craft and to use traditional structures and materials for the hull structures, so the designer needs to search for light and higher strength structural materials and for the adoption of new structural solutions unconventional for the shipbuilding field. The purpose of the project is the feasibility analysis of structures built with advanced materials for new large unconventional SES, the set up of an integrated structural analysis procedure and software and the development of a reliability based design criteria and guidelines to be used in order to obtain a reliable structural design for large size S.E.S. vessels.

The main objectives of the project are:

- assess the feasibility of light high strength structure of unconventional large size S.E.S. using also advanced materials;
- the set up of a fully integrated software procedure for structural analysis;
- the definition of reliability based structural design criteria and guidelines;
- the collection of experimental results of model tests and sea trials;
- the improvement of production technologies in shipbuilding.

Fields of science

• natural sciences › computer and information sciences › software
• engineering and technology › mechanical engineering › vehicle engineering › naval engineering › sea vessels

Programme(s)

• FP3-BRITE/EURAM 2 - Specific programme (EEC) of research and technological development in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 1.3.1 - Metals and metal matrix composites

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Cetena SpA

Address

Via Al Molo Giano
16126 Genova
Italy

Participants (8)

Chantiers de l'Atlantique

France

Address

Avenue Bourdelle
44608 Saint-nazaire

DANYARD AALBORG A/S

Denmark

Address

(Pobox 660)
9100 Aalborg

DET NORSKE VERITAS RESEARCH AS

Norway

Address

Veritasveien 1
1322 Hovik

HEXCEL SA

Belgium

Address

Rue Des 3 Bourdons 54
4840 Welkenraedt

INST OF TECHNOLOGY ZURICH

Switzerland

Address

Raemistr. 101
8092 Zurich

MARITIME RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Netherlands

Address

Haagsteeg 2
6708 PH Wageningen

TNO

Netherlands

Address

Leeghwaterstraat 5
2600AA Delft

TU ATHENS

Greece

Address

Herron Polytechniou Av. 5
15700 Athens