Field monitoring of the ice load of an icebreaker propeller blade using fiber optic strain gauges

Andre Morin; Serge Caron; Richard Van Neste; Merv H. Edgecombe

doi:10.1117/12.240883

30 May 1996 Field monitoring of the ice load of an icebreaker propeller blade using fiber optic strain gauges

Andre Morin, Serge Caron, Richard Van Neste, Merv H. Edgecombe

Proceedings Volume 2718, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Sensing, Processing, and Instrumentation; (1996) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240883
Event: 1996 Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 1996, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

Navigation in polar waters presents a formidable challenge to ships' propulsion systems as large ice pieces impinging on their propeller blades sometimes result in stresses exceeding the yield strength of the blade material. Damage to propellers is costly and can also spell disaster if a ship becomes disabled in a remote area. To prevent such situations, design practice must be improved and theoretical models of propeller/ice interaction must be validated against experimental data. The blade shape requires that the load be monitored at many locations in order to obtain an accurate picture of the stress and load distribution. Fiber optic sensors are ideally suited for such an application, owing to their small size, stability over time, immunity to electro-magnetic interference, resistance to corrosion and chemical attack by sea water and hydraulic oil. We report the full-scale instrumentation of an icebreaker propeller blade with 54 Fabry-Perot based fiber optic strain gauges and shaft-mounted electronics. The instrumentation design and installation procedures are described. Additional data gathered from the propulsion control system and the ship's navigation equipment is presented and the data fusion performed with underwater video imagery of the instrumented blade is also discussed. An overview of the noise-free data obtained during the Antarctic trials is given. We finally discuss the sensors behavior and long term response, presenting their applicability to smart structures.

Citation Download Citation

Andre Morin, Serge Caron, Richard Van Neste, and Merv H. Edgecombe "Field monitoring of the ice load of an icebreaker propeller blade using fiber optic strain gauges", Proc. SPIE 2718, Smart Structures and Materials 1996: Smart Sensing, Processing, and Instrumentation, (30 May 1996); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.240883

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available