PROJECT APN007

Structural Health Monitoring for Tubular Joints 

The offshore industry heavily relies on tubular joints, often located in hard-to-reach areas, presenting challenges for conventional inspection methods and reducing reliability.



This project aims to address these limitations in structural health monitoring to enhance the safety and reliability of offshore structures. Through the utilisation of various sensors, the team monitors the structural health of these installations over time, yielding more robust data and improving safety and durability. 

Specifically, they seek to establish acceptance criteria for field repairs utilising composite materials and develop protocols for in-service inspections. Additionally, they are researching optimal resin systems for bonding to metallic structures, with a focus on enhancing safety and reliability, particularly within the oil and gas sector where these structures are critical.

The project’s outcomes could introduce cost-effective and precise methods for detecting damage and degradation, ultimately reducing maintenance expenses and downtime. This could enhance the long-term economic viability of such structures. Moreover, there is potential for these outcomes to be applied to other industries, such as retrofitting infrastructures like bridges and other essential structures.

ACM CRC Research Programs

• RP4 - Design and Integration
  

Project Partners

• FUZE Solutions
• The University of Western Australia (UWA)
  

Project Leaders

• Jason LeCoultre, FUZE Solutions
• Associate Professor Farhad Aslani, UWA

Year commenced

2023

Things that break due to sustained environmental pressures are often a long way from a traditional factory, and repairs need to be performed anytime, anywhere. Composites can also be useful for making lighter, more versatile components for a range of industrial applications.