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Analysis of a new composite material for watercraft manufacturing

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Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the properties of an alternative material for use in marine engineering, namely a rigid and light sandwich-structured composite made of expanded polystyrene and fiberglass. Not only does this material have an improved section modulus, but it is also inexpensive, light, easy to manipulate, and commercially available in various sizes. Using a computer program based on the finite element method, we calculated the hogging and sagging stresses and strains acting on a prismatic boat model composed of this material, and determined the minimum sizes and maximum permissible stresses to avoid deformation. Finally, we calculated the structural weight of the resulting vessel for comparison with another structure of comparable dimensions constructed from the commonly used core material Divinycell.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Construction and Structures, Polytechnic School, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Aristides Novís, 02, 5º andar, Federação, Salvador–BA, Brazil, CEP: 40210-910

    Alexandre Wahrhaftig

  2. Bahia Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology, Rua Emidio dos Santos, Barbalho, Salvador–BA, Brazil, CEP: 40210-910

    Henrique Ribeiro

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Polytechnic School, Federal University of Bahia, Rua Aristides Novís, 02, 5º andar, Federação, Salvador–BA, Brazil, CEP: 40210-910

    Ademar Nascimento

  4. Research and Education Center in Composite Materials (CEPEC), Avenida Laurindo Régis, 360, Cond. Castro Alves, BL.11A, AP 412, Bela Vista de Brotas, Salvador–BA, Brazil, CEP: 40240-550

    Milton Filho

Authors
  1. Alexandre Wahrhaftig
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  2. Henrique Ribeiro
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  3. Ademar Nascimento
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  4. Milton Filho
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Correspondence to Alexandre Wahrhaftig.

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Wahrhaftig, A., Ribeiro, H., Nascimento, A. et al. Analysis of a new composite material for watercraft manufacturing. J. Marine. Sci. Appl. 15, 336–342 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-016-1364-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11804-016-1364-8

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