Author(s)

J. Kozak

Abstract

Laser welding techniques start to find their position among different methods of joining which allow changes in configuration of typical ship structure: instead of shell plating supported by perpendicular system of heavy stiffeners one can use the SANDWICH panel: two shell plating of thickness in the range 3-4 mm with height about 40 mm, supported internally by uni-directional system of stiffeners - all components connected by laser welding. Paper presents idea of the SANDWICH panels as well as the preliminary laboratory fatigue tests results of such panels tested in natural scale. Introduction Accelerated development of new technologies which is observed during last several years have made impact on shipbuilding structures too. The new materials and new manufacturing techniques have been developed. Among other new ideas, the laser welding technique

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