.PH "''Deterioration of Structural Integrity of Aging Ships''"
.PF "'ARC Linkage'- \\\\nP -'Oct 2016'"
.\" .PGFORM 18c 10.0i 1.5c
.ds sR Stress response of a floating structure
.ds iA Integration of aging effects
.SA 1
.nh
.nr Hy 0
.S 12 24
.ds HP 12 12 12 12 12 12 12
.ds HF 3 3 2 2 2 2 2
.\"
.\" generalize corrosion and fatigue
.\"
.H 1 "AIMS AND BACKGROUND"
This project aims to develop new tools to confidently predict the ability of
a specific floating structure to withstand some given operational load at a
specific time in the future.
Working in conjunction with current best-practice stochastic methods that
consider structural aging, these tools will deduce a probability of the
structure meeting service loads.
Those same tools will then improve upon that outcome by performing an
accurate analysis of the actual load the structure will experience, and
then give a definitive go/no-go outcome based on the stresses developed
within the structure.
.P
The background for this approach is based on the high value of maritime
assets, and the high cost of inspection and maintenance of those assets
to ensure operational availability at a cost-effective risk.
Maritime assets such as harbour-side infrastructure, ships and offshore
energy production facilities like platforms, floating production storage
and offloading facilities (FPSOs) and drilling rigs, suffer structurally
degrading processes over their life that reduces the structural integrity
of the asset.
Prime examples of such processes are fatigue and (metal) corrosion, and these
can result in reduced capability and even failure in times of (critical) need.
The terms "vessel", "ship", "platform" and "asset" will be used interchangeably
throughout this description.
.P
The key to prolonging an asset's life at an economical rate is the understanding
of the relationship between the current structural condition of an asset and the
future service that it is required to provide, especially the operational load
to which it will be subjected over/at that time.
This project proposes to marry emerging structural response prediction methods
with current aged-structure assessment techniques to provide new insight into
the remaining life of an asset.
This prediction of current capability will be an important factor in any
sustainment programme to provide the most economical operation of the asset.
Two key technologies will be leveraged in this project.
The first comprises the condition assessment and prediction  
capabilities of one the CIs (Melchers2008), technology that has been developed
over many years and at times, refined during collaborative
work with the XYZA, e.g. Gardiner&Melchers2003, a Partner Organization,
PO#XYZA, to this application.
The second comprises technology coming from the latest developments of a local
research initiative to better predict loads on floating structures, begun and
driven by the other Partner Organization, Pacific ESI, PO#ESI.
(Cartwright2012, Groenenboom++2010, Groenenboom++2009).
From its inception, PO#ESI's R+D has collaboratively involved PO#DSTG,
e.g. Cartwright++2007, Jones&Belton2006.
Both technologies represent world-leading approaches
and have been published extensively, in publicly released
reports, at conferences to facilitate their rapid dissemination and feedback,
and in academic journals.
.\" as recognised by the international research community.
.H 1 "SIGNIFICANCE AND INNOVATION"
Corrosion and fatigue are a reality of steel structures in maritime
environments.
So the industry has to live with them, manage them,
and know when to act to avoid the loss of a vessel through the deterioration
of its structural integrity.