The introduction of heat recoverable couplings to ship repair and maintenance

Journal Article · Wed Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1982 · Nav. Eng. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-3584.1982.tb02520.x· OSTI ID:5861884

Liberatore, D J; Backerville, J E

Although Heat Recoverable Couplings (HRCs), used to join pipe, may be labeled innovative ''state-of-the-art'' technology for U.S. Naval Shipyards, they have been in use in foreign ships and high technology industries for over a decade. HRCs provide a permanent leak-proof pipe joint in specified applications without the use of high temperature and the inherent hazards of an open flame. Manufactured from NITINOL, a nickel-titanium alloy developed by the U.S. Navy, the couplings exhibit a ''shape memory'' characteristic. That is, they return (shrink) to a specified shape (pipe diameter) thus forming a mechanical seal when the expanded coupling is removed from a cryogenic environment and warmed above approximately-130/sup 0/C. This paper provides background information into the development of NITINOL, technical explanation of shape memory metallurgy, and a summary of results, with specific examples, describing the trial use of HRCs at Pearl Harbor and Norfolk Naval Shipyards. Limited return cost data and recommendations for future use are presented. Then, using the HRC Program as a basis, the Authors discuss the conservative nature of the ship repair and maintenance environment. This environment, in the Authors' opinion, couples with complex contractual constraints and requirements which serve to restrict the introduction of new ideas. An analogy is made to Russian tenacity of recent years which promotes ''exploring and doing'' while we in the U.S. Navy are frequently content to study.

• OSTI ID: 5861884
• Journal Information: Nav. Eng. J.; (United States), Vol. 94:6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
COUPLINGS
HEAT RECOVERY EQUIPMENT
SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT
PIPE JOINTS
SHIPS
MAINTENANCE
REPAIR
COST
METALLURGY
NITINOL
TECHNOLOGY UTILIZATION
ALLOYS
EQUIPMENT
JOINTS
NICKEL ALLOYS
TITANIUM ALLOYS
423000* - Engineering- Marine Engineering- (1980-)
360101 - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication