Health Structural Monitoring Systems

THE AVAILABILITY OF REAL TIME INFORMATION ONBOARD SHIP STRUCTURES IS AN IMPORTANT SUPPORT TO SAFELY PROTECT SHIP ASSET, CARGO AND CREW.

— CETENA has developed the lo SHIP ADVANCED MONITORING AND ANALYSIS (Sh.A.M.An.) HULL MONITORING SYSTEM (HMS) that is able to reduce the risk of damage to hull structures caused by improper loading or navigation in bad weather conditions. The system can be customized according to specific need; integrating different kinds of sensors like strain gauges, accelerometers, inclinometers, pressure gauges and so on. Full 3D finite element analysis can be carried out by CETENA in order to decide the more appropriate location for sensors and set warning and alarm thresholds. Data from wavemeters or wave radar can be acquired by Sh.A.M.An., allowing for the correlation of hull conditions and environmental factors. Sh.A.M.An. provides a real-time warning if hull motions and/or local or global stresses approach or overtake thresholds. In this way the onboard personnel have an affordable measure of loads on the ship structure and of the level of risk.
Sh.A.M.An. obtained the Certificate of Design Assessment by RINA according to the additional class notation MON-HULL + S.

— CETENA HMS can be interfaced with most navigation equipments, automation systems, VDRs and loading computers. In particular, the interfacing with the loading computer can compare the calculated bending moment with the actual one, measured and recorded by sensors onboard. This ensures to keep under control the loading/unloading operations of the ship and to warn the personnel about situations potentially dangerous for the ship structures. The software counts and records fatigue cycles. The information collected can be used to assist both the hull condition evaluation in real time.
The system provides an opportunity for shipowners to discuss and negotiate a lower insurance premium.

The extensive experience gained in the naval field allows CETENA to plan and HEALTH STRUCTURAL MONITORNIG SYSTEMS as the one recently installed on the Viaduct “PerGenova”.

Thanks to optical-fiber sensors and the low impact of installation, it is possible to install hundreds of sensors on bridges, viaducts and tunnels, and to provide moment after moment a detailed and reliable information on the state of art facility.

The collected data is saved on a database and can be further analysed by the project manager, allowing for the monitoring of the facility over the years. Precise control algorithms perform a range of dynamic analysis and testing on operational limits and to notify a potential alarm to the supervision and control system even for a low level allert, anticipating and preventing the critical thresholds being reached.

Benefits:

  • Protects ship’s asset, cargo and crew
  • Support in counteracting potentially dangerous situations
  • Monitors the ship structural integrity during transfer of ballast and in ship loading/unloading operations
  • Allowing to evaluate and predict the ship fatigue life
  • Supports in better operation of the ship, maintaining high structural safety margins
  • Can be interfaced with ship maintenance software, giving way to a condition based maintenance plan of structures
  • Reduces risk of structural damages, avoiding relevant repairing costs
  • Potentially reduces insurance premiums
  • Demonstrates the ship quality to charterers.
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