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Electrogas welding of advanced double-hull subassemblies

Journal Article · · Welding Journal
OSTI ID:197650
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Annapolis, MD (United States). Carderock Div.
  2. Metro Machine Corp., Norfolk, VA (United States)

The new Oil Pollution Act of 1990 mandates double hulls on all tankers entering US waters by the year 2010. In 1992, the Office of Naval Research sent out a Request for Proposals to private industry to support development of surface ship double-hull technology. Metro Machine Corp., Norfolk, Va., and Marinex International Inc., Hoboken, NJ, together responded with a proposal for simplified double-hull construction employing curved hull plating and a patented single-pass welding application of the electrogas welding process. The unstiffened, curved shell hull design, called the Marc Guardian, relies on the inherent strength ad stiffness of a curved element and does not require stiffeners to be attached to the plate surface. Since intermediate transverse web frames are eliminated in the design, Marc Guardian midbodies contain substantially fewer structural components compared to traditional designs. It is, therefore, easier to eliminate long-term corrosion problems. The electrogas welding process combined with a new hull design resulted in savings in construction costs and time.

OSTI ID:
197650
Journal Information:
Welding Journal, Journal Name: Welding Journal Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 75; ISSN 0043-2296; ISSN WEJUA3
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English