Carbon fibre and other lightweight composites are extensively utilised throughout the structure of the modern yacht. The benefits of the lightweight high strength spars are evident to all and increasing numbers of sailing yachts utilise such systems. Such large composite structures are however, still relatively unusual and compared to metallic structures there is still a dearth of sound accepted design principles. There is a shortage of design data in the public domain and the principal spar manufacturers and spar designers have had to develop their own practical design data. Monitoring loads in composite structures in real time, throughout the structure is now a real possibility using fibre optic carrier cables with integral strain sensing systems. The fibre optic cables are compatible with the composite substructure and can be laid into that during manufacture. This paper opens the subject of real time strain monitoring by describing the background details to composite superyacht mast design and the results of a 2.5 year DTI sponsored research project entitled 'SMART Mast'. This is a collaboration between British Aerospace Military Aircraft Division, Pendennis Shipyard, Carbospars and Aston University. The project has sought to prove that there is no knockdown effect to the laminate resulting from the inclusion of the fibre optics and to determine the practical methods of laying in the fibre optics during commercial production processes, and culminates in the installation of the system in several yacht masts including three superyacht masts. A hardware/software package has been developed to pre-production format, and that monitors the loads in the spar at three levels: a simple overload warning indication; ongoing pictorial colour-coded wireline PC driven picture of the mast; and continual lifetime recording of the loads in the structure (a form of black box). The fibre-optic strain monitoring system integral to the composite structure will last the lifetime of the structure and be free from the electrical interference so often present in more conventional strain gauge monitoring.


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    Title :

    Carbon spars for superyachts and smart mast technology


    Additional title:

    Carbonsparren für Superjachten und intelligente Masttechnik


    Contributors:
    Foote, P. (author) / Roberts, D. (author)


    Publication date :

    1998


    Size :

    14 Seiten, 9 Bilder, 3 Tabellen, 5 Quellen



    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    Carbon Spars for Superyachts and Smart Mast Technology

    Roberts, D. / Foote, P. / Royal Institution of Naval Architects; Small Craft Group et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1998



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