UA engineering professor to study the impact of freezing temperatures on naval vessels

Dr. Kwek Tze (KT) Tan, Assistant Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department in the College of Engineering, recently received a $150,000 grant from the Office of Naval Research. The funds will be used to investigate the impact and behavior of composite structures used in the makeup of naval vessels in extreme low temperature Arctic conditions.

According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, global warming has reduced the Arctic ice region by 50 percent in the last 30 years. This has resulted in new sea routes that are more efficient and economical to connect opposite ends of the globe, which has led to a significant increase in sea travel and transportation through the region. The Arctic has a very harsh climatic condition (average temperature about negative 30 degrees Celsius and lowest temperature about negative 70 degrees Celsius). As more ships sail through these freezing waters, there will likely be more impacts. Materials must be designed to withstand this extreme low temperature to transport people and goods safely through these harsh conditions.

“If we don’t alter the makeup of these structures to withstand the cold, we’re looking at another Titanic,” says Dr. Tan.

Dr. Tan and his team will study composite sandwich structures, which are fabricated by attaching two thin but stiff skins to a lightweight but thick core. The core material is normally low strength material, but its higher thickness provides the sandwich composite with high bending stiffness with overall low density. These structures are used in the construction of many naval vessels due to their lightweight and high strength. Current composite structures used in the manufacture of naval vessels are not designed for low temperature environments.

Photo Caption: Dr. Tan and his graduate assistant, Mahfujul Khan 

Research, conducted by Dr. Tan and his graduate assistant and Ph.D. student Mahfujul Khan, will incorporate experimental techniques such as impact dynamic characterization and non-destructive inspection analysis. The research will utilize state-of-the art technology available on campus, including the impact test machine (Instron CEAST 9350) and X-ray micro-computed tomography device (Nikon XTH320). Liquid nitrogen gas will be used to cool down sample composites in an environmental chamber, which can test at freezing Arctic temperatures.

Dr. Tan has been working on researching the durability of composite structures for 14 years, starting with his time as an undergrad at the National University of Singapore. It’s no wonder he calls it his “baby.”

Results from this work will provide the Office of Naval Research with a fundamental understanding on how composite materials behave at low temperature environment. This will lead to new sandwich construction with enhanced dynamic performances for Arctic region applications.

Congrats to Dr. Tan for receiving funding for this exciting research!