This paper presents an approach for the model estimating the probabilistic percent corrosion depth for inner bottom plates of fuel oil tanks located in the double bottom of aging bulk carriers. Assuming that corrosion begins after four years of exploitation, a statistical approach to investigations on the ratio of the corrosion rate and the average initial inner bottom plate’s thickness of considered bulk carriers is given. We consider this ratio to be a random variable since it is included in the usual linear corrosion model. By applying adequate statistical tests to the available empirical dataset, three best fitted three-parameter distributions for estimating the cumulative density function and the probability density function of the random variable were obtained. These three distributions were further used to estimate the studied percentage of corrosion depth. Lastly, we present the corresponding numerical and graphical results concerning the obtained statistical and empirical results and give concluding remarks.

Standard structural assessments of ship hulls include the evaluation of the elastic structural response. Elastic analysis neglects extreme and unpredicted loadings, which can produce catastrophic outcomes, such as the loss of the ship’s ultimate strength. Moreover, hull elements are considered unaffected by age-related degradation. Therefore, this study models and quantifies the effect of corrosion-induced structural degradation on the ultimate strength of a high-tensile-steel (HTS) cargo ship using progressive collapse and nonlinear finite element methods. Uniform and pitting corrosion are modeled through selected scenarios, which hull elements might encounter during exploitation, producing a total of 148 calculation models. The findings show that corrosion-induced degradation can significantly decrease the ultimate strength of the hull (up to 30% for the most severe scenarios assessed). Furthermore, ultimate strength decreases almost proportionally to the amount of wastage considered. It was found that stiffener corrosion has a significant effect on the total ultimate strength. This study’s aim is to emphasize the vast importance of including ultimate strength along with ageing effects in industry-standard structural assessments of large HTS ship structures, designed to last for several decades whilst exposed to excessive and unpredicted bending moments.

The longitudinal girder (LG) between fuel oil tanks (FOT) and water ballast tanks in the double bottoms of ships represent critical structural parts whose watertight nature could be harmed by corrosion, thus, causing the pollution of water ballast tanks and adjacent areas. The new common structural rules (CSR) define the minimum thickness values of structural elements and corrosion margins. The assessment of the deviations from the prescribed values during ship operation could optimize the prescribed criteria. Assuming that corrosive processes begin after four years of operation, the paper analyzes a linear model that describes the percentage of plate wear as a function of the built-in thickness of LG of FOT. The research included 20 ships and provided the database for 1918 corrosion depth values. The gauging records included the average values of the original thickness of steel plates grouped in three intervals (11–13 mm, 13–15 mm, 15–18 mm). Based on the difference between the built-in and subsequently measured values, the paper analyzes the percentage of thickness reduction due to corrosion, concerning the original plate thickness. The findings of the research should facilitate the optimization of corrosion margins and prevent potential structural collapse and pollution.

Probabilistic models of corrosion rate estimation in the case of two NiTi alloys obtained by different technological processes are analysed in this paper. The depth of corrosion was measured by focused ion beam analysis on a metal surface that was not protected by an anti-corrosion coating. The samples were exposed to the influence of three different seawater environments, and empirical data were obtained in a systematic measurement procedure after 6, 12 and 18 months. Assuming that corrosion processes begin immediately after exposure of the samples to the influence of the seawater environment, and observing the corrosion rate as a random variable affected by various stochastic processes, the formed standard linear corrosion model was analysed by a statistical approach. The three best-fitted three-parameter distributions which can describe the changes in the corrosion rate for NiTi alloys exposed to the influence of the seawater environment adequately were obtained by fitting the continuous theoretical distributions. Adequate statistical tests showed similarities and differences in the behaviour of the two observed NiTi alloys from the point of view of corrosion processes caused by air, tide and sea.

In this review it is presented the insight of challenges faced by all branches of industry in the new age, and especially the maritime industry, strive for sustainable development, better energy control, use of materials with functional properties such as shape memory, all in the direction of increasing safety and comfort. Therefore, the development of new materials with shape memory, which is associated with the introduction of optimized production and the achievement of better functional properties. This leads to new applications in different systems and possible use on devices, which meet the rigorous requirements of the modern industry. The research into new materials with shape memory effect and their applied use in maritime is a challenge that many researchers have encountered in recent decades, and this is why in this paper we look at the basic engineering aspect of these materials and their current as well as future applications in the maritime industry. An overview of several innovations that testify shape memory effect and superelasticity in different maritime fields will be presented in this review.

This paper gives an approach to the probabilistic percent corrosion depth estimation model for the CuAlNi Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) in different marine environments. Real testing was performed for validation of the theoretical model, where CuAlNi SMAs were exposed to 6 and 12 months in different seawater environments. Focus Ion Beam (FIB) analysis was used to measure the real corrosion depth on the surfaces of tested samples. A statistical approach to the investigation of the corrosion rate of CuAlNi SMA is given, where the corrosion rate is observed as a continuous random variable described by a linear corrosion model, with the assumption that corrosion starts immediately upon alloy surfaces being exposed to the influences of the marine environment. The three best-fitted two-parameter distributions for estimating the cumulative density function and the probability density function of the random variable were obtained by applying adequate statistical tests. Furthermore, using EDX analyses, we identified the chemical composition of the corroded materials, and with the help of Principal Component Analyses, we determined which corrosion environment had the most dominant influence on the corrosion process. The research results indicated that the changeable environment in the tides had a more heterogenic chemical content, which accelerated the corrosion rate.