APPLICATIONS OF FIBRE REINFORCED COMPOSITES IN MARINE TECHNOLOGY
A review is made of existing marine applications of fiber- reinforced composites. Problems arising in the design of marine-type composite structures, including evaluation and selection of materials, structural analysis, buckling behavior and performance of connections, are discussed with particular reference to large, high-performance GRP hulls. Suggestions are made on items of research and development needed in this field. The greatest scope for increased application of fiber-reinforced composites in the marine field appears to lie in construction of medium-size hulls in the 20 to 40 m range, including particularly fishing boats, together possibly with large patrol boats and service vessels for the offshore gas/oil industry. While design studies for larger ships have indicated that GRP tankers, trawlers and ferries of up to 80 m might prove economically viable, present cost figures suggest that GRP is unlikely to compete with welded steel construction in ships of over 50 m unless a special requirement arises, eg for carriage of corrosive cargo or, in the case of minesweepers, for a non-magnetic hull.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Compos-Stand Test and Des, Conf Proceeding, National Physics Laboratory, Teddington, England, April 8-9, 1974.
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Corporate Authors:
IPC Science and Technology Press Limited
IPC House, 32 High Street
Guildford, Surrey England -
Authors:
- SMITH, C S
- Conference:
- Publication Date: 1974-4
Media Info
- Features: References;
- Pagination: p. 54-69
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Building materials; Glass fiber reinforced plastics; High performance surface ships; Hulls; Shipbuilding
- Old TRIS Terms: Hull construction
- Subject Areas: Marine Transportation; Materials;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00099465
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: Engineering Index
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Sep 30 1975 12:00AM