Gdańsk University of Technology develops ultrasonic system for ship condition assessment
A research team led by Prof. Beata Zima from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk University of Technology is developing an innovative system to monitor the structural integrity of ships using ultrasonic technology. The project has received funding under the LIDER program, run by the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR), with a grant amount of PLN 1.74 million.
In brief
A team led by Professor Beata Zima of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology at Gdańsk University of Technology has received nearly PLN 1.75 million from the LIDER programme of the National Centre for Research and Development for a prototype ultrasonic system for assessing shell structures. The Gdańsk University of Technology system is to replace tens of thousands of point plate thickness measurements with a statistical distribution of material thickness. Gdańsk University of Technology researchers and experts from the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences take part in the project, with applications covering steel and composite laminates.
The system aims to support ship inspectors in evaluating the degree of hull corrosion by enabling broader, more accurate surface diagnostics with fewer measurements. Currently, thickness measurements of ship plating are taken manually and locally—sometimes hundreds of thousands of times per vessel—offering only a rough estimate of actual corrosion spread. During this time, vessels remain docked, generating operational downtime.
- Our method uses ultrasonic waves that behave much like ripples created by a stone dropped in water, explains Prof. Beata Zima. - In an undamaged plate, waves propagate symmetrically. When corrosion is present, this wavefront becomes disturbed, allowing us to map the state of the structure over a larger area from a single signal.
The technique builds on prior basic research funded by the National Science Centre. The team demonstrated that ultrasonic wave behavior changes significantly in plates with uneven thickness or corroded layers. Their approach allows statistical mapping of material degradation, offering a broader yet reliable overview of the condition of hull structures.
While the system currently focuses on steel hull structures, its application may extend to composite materials used in yacht construction, where ultrasonic diagnostics could detect other types of damage.
The interdisciplinary team includes researchers from Gdańsk University of Technology’s faculties of Mechanical Engineering and Ship Technology and Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics, as well as scientists from the Institute of Fluid-Flow Machinery of the Polish Academy of Sciences.
The LIDER program supports young researchers (up to 7 years after earning a PhD) in leading their own R&D projects with strong implementation potential. The ultrasonic system, once prototyped and validated, may become a practical tool for improving ship maintenance efficiency and reducing inspection downtime in the maritime sector.
Source: Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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