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AbstractAn Italian company patented a continuous hull stress monitoring system able to measure and report relevant information such as heat expansion and contraction, torsion, uneven loading, wind and wave impact, storm damage, collisions, and groundings. The system is based on fibre optic technology which, compared to commonly used electric devices, performs a more precise structural surveys and can be better installed and operated in harsh environments. They are looking for a license agreement.DetailsThe system offers real-time measurement of stress on the ships hull. This system differs from theoretical structural health calculation programs, such as the loading instrument, which do not provide reliable data of the ship’s actual hull condition. Thanks to a network of fibre optic sensors the systems detects and reports crucial data such as heat expansion and contraction, torsion, uneven loading, wind and wave impact, storm damage, collisions, and groundings.This information is very important for the control and structural management of ships. So far,technologies used for structural monitoring were based upon electric devices that could not be exposed to the elements, and which needed continuous adjustments to provide only approximate measurements. The patented fibre optic technology allows continious long term extremely precise and reliable structural surveys. The sensors are extremely rugged and can be installed and operated in harsh environments. The new generation FBG (Fibre Bragg Grating) sensors, derived from applications in civil fields, are based on the photosensitivity of optical fibres. They are able to transform strain and/or temperature variations to a shift of wavelength of reflected light. This signal is then sent out over the fiber optic network and re-captured by a central Readout Unit that elaborates and records the data. In addition with the proposed solution there is not a network of electric cables crossing the ship but rather an inert and safer fibre optic network which is obviously much better for safety. The proposed continuous hull stress monitoring system is specifically projected for the measurement of the real stress suffered by a ship thanks to a network from 25 to 100 special FBG optic sensors, longitudinally and transversally positioned in the most critical and sensitive sites of the ship’s structure. Thanks to the applied technology it is able to provide continuous measurements every two seconds and records the compression and the extension of the plate structure in the measured zone. The hardware is set only once during installation and no recalibration is necessary for the entire life of the sensor. The precision and the accuracy of the surveys are guaranteed by the system which also compensates for temperature, and measures the deformations suffered by the plates. This allows exact control of the real and actual stress the structure of the ship is subjected to during its lifetime. The extremely precise longitudinal and transversal measurements are recorded on a post-processing storage unit and can subsequently can be transmitted on-line. The software uses a data processing system with specific algorithms providing punctual and average outputs calculated over weekly, monthly and annual periods, in accordance with the parameters set in agreement with the classification institutes. Innovative Aspects: TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES FOR THE SHIP: * Real long-term structural health monitoring * Possible preventive maintenance interventions when structural problems are identified * Punctual stress display during loading /unloading or navigation in bad weather conditions * Various levels of alarm can forewarn and pinpoint failure thereby increasing the ships overall safety * Possibility of connection and interaction with other instruments on board. COMMERCIAL ADVANTAGES FOR THE COMPANY: * Additional class notation given to the ship by the classification institutes * Major oil companies sensitive to safety issues and environmental care, therefore possible improvement of the hires * Improvement of the image of the shipowner * Possible advantages in insurance fees * Possible extended-time for the ship’s useful life * Monitored ships could have a better appeal in case of resale * Possibility of simplification of the inspective visits by the classification institutes (e.g. CAPS)
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