Lightweight structure for the deckhouses of workboats

Abstract

Baltic Workboats is mainly aluminium and steel-based shipyard. Market developments and constant drive to provide better product to customers have led Baltic Workboats to constantly look for innovative design solutions and novel technologies. Composites are becoming more and more popular in industrial workboat applications and Baltic Workboats is exploring opportunities to apply lightweight materials in its production. Given thesis concentrates on research and feasibility about the prospect of replacing aluminium workboat wheelhouse with composite structure.

Overview of the current situation is given and possible alternatives are explored. Composite materials theory and aspects were studied from different literature sources and industry experts. The research was conducted from the perspective of possible benefits of composites from the shipyard perspective while also covering possible problems and obstacles which could hinder implementation of composite production in Baltic Workboats.

Rule based composite wheelhouse design was developed and analysed. This analysis was basis for the formation of case studies in which two composite wheelhouse models were analysed in FEMAP software. AHP tool was used to decide about feasibility of replacing wheelhouse material from aluminium to composite sandwich.

Composite sandwich structure is interesting option for aluminium workboat wheelhouse structure but more detailed analysis about the financial and production aspects needs to be carried out. Furthermore, design of the structure needs to be investigated further before it can be applied into real life production.