Design and Development of Lifeboats - Damage Evaluation and Repair of Composite Structures

Abstract:

The RNLI has been using composites for the construction of some of its lifeboats since the early 1970s and in the late 1980s a decision was taken to adopt a newer advanced form of composite construction with a view to saving overall structural weight whilst maintaining the requisite structural strength. This paper presents a broad discussion of the history of the use of composites in the RNLI, the structural design and development of lifeboats and the challenges currently faced in the identification of damage and repair methods for fibre-reinforced plastic sandwich structures, operating in the marine environment.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volumes 3-4)
• Pages: 3-8
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.3-4.3
• Online since: August 2006
• Authors: R.M. Cripps
• Keywords: Composite Structure, Damage Evaluation, Inspection Techniques, Lifeboats, Repair

References

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DOI: 10.3940/rina.ft.2001.81

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