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Increased crashworthiness due to arctic conditions - The influence of sub-zero temperature

Abstract

Offshore activities and shipping in arctic regions increased significantly in the past decade due to the expected natural resources and due to the upcoming advantages of the northern sea route. Hence, structural solutions used in arctic conditions need to resist the low temperatures at an adequate safety level. Therefore, this paper analyses the collision resistance of ships exposed to sub-zero temperature (SZT). Further, it assesses the influence of the material properties for 0, −30, −60 and −90 °C of typical shipbuilding steel. Thereby, the theoretical influence of SZT on the collision force will be presented as well as the potential gain from specially selected materials for SZT, arctic materials, compared to standard materials, both with and without the presence of rupture. As a result, the potential increase in crashworthiness of structures under SZT will be presented and thereby a contribution to safe arctic operations and transport.

Category

Academic article

Language

English

Author(s)

  • Sören Ehlers
  • Erling Østby

Affiliation

  • Norwegian University of Science and Technology
  • SINTEF Industry / Materials and Nanotechnology

Year

2012

Published in

Marine Structures

ISSN

0951-8339

Volume

28

Issue

1

Page(s)

86 - 100

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