Study of Fitting and Fairing Aids of U.S. Shipyards
Abstract
The use of fitting and fairing aids has been and will continue to be an integral part of shipbuilding. Fitting and fairing aids were in use when the ancients built-the first wooden ships. Since then, the methods used for fitting and aligning for fairing purposes have changed. Over the past one hundred years, materials and fabrication methods have changed dramatically. In current day ships, building materials are mainly ferrous alloys. Non-ferrous metals, composites and wood are used in a small portion of the total vessel tonnage being built. All of these materials have flaws, inaccuracies, and stresses which will manifest themselves during the fabrication process as distortions of one sort or another. This, and the need to hold and align components, create the basic need for fitting and fairing aids. It maybe said that a fitting and fairing aid is a method or device used to hold or align (or both) two or more parts in a predetermined location. They may also be used to correct distortion while assembling components of structures, and the structures themselves. The ideal situation would be to use the minimum number of aids possible, but unfortunately, inherent flaws in the materials and other influencing factors seem to prohibit this. It is important to have a knowledge of the available aids in order that an intelligent choice maybe made for any particular application. Current technology available to the shipyards, such as line heating, can dramatically increase the accuracy of parts, assemblies, and overall fabrication. Use of such technology should decrease the need for fitting and fairing while increasing productivity.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA444610
Entities
People
- C. A. O'harro
- R. K. Nordeen
- R. Klaar