TITANIUM, prototipo di passerella & gru in titanio per grandi yacht

The article develops the testing and the application of titanium alloys in the marine field through a prototype example (a footbridge with crane extra functionality to serve maxi yachts). The paper summarizes some of the activities conducted in a wider research project. In fact these activities were achieved in the context of scholarship assigned to the author of the paper and a research grant assigned to the Genoa University (DSA- Sciences for Architecture Department) through the PRAI-FESR Liguria program “STUDY and EXECUTION OF TITANIUM ALLOY PRODUCTS FOR NAVAL AND NAUTICAL INDUSTRY”. The project was co-founded by Fondo Sociale Europeo and Genoa CNR (National Research Council). The program also received the prestigious partnership of two institutions: - (university partner) Genoa University through DSA (Sciences for Architecture Department) -(business/institutional partner) OTO Melara (Finmeccanica Group) and MARIPERMAN (Permanent Commission for Experiments on War Materials – Italian Military Navy). The project is about the multiple complementary research activities and experiments actions regarding: 1. titanium alloy in the sea environment (real sea testing), 2. concept design (project establishment) 3. planning, 4. structural calculation (FEM), 5. prototyping. The research led to: 1. successful processing and application of titanium alloy to naval sector; 2. prototyping of footbridge with crane extra functionality to serve maxi yachts (made by Ti CP2) and variable geometry dock’s vehicle. The prototypes were regularly patented and displayed during several Naval Exposition around Europe. The footbridge, designed by the author, was presented at the naval technologies event SeaTech 2007. In the same occasion, the footbridge obtained the special award mention as “product of latest generation technological frontier” during the Qualitech award recognition. The project “STUDY and EXECUTION OF TITANIUM ALLOY PRODUCTS FOR NAVAL AND NAUTICAL INDUSTRY” with many others applied for PRAI award, then PRAI deeply assessed the best 26 and, within them, this project ranked first; consequently it was listed in the Erik Network web site fulfilling all requirements so to be entitled as “best practice”. Erik Network, together with PRAI, endorse the re-application of this project management (best practice) so to boost the international competitiveness of titanium related product development. Moreover, OTO Melara, being very knowledgeable about military and non- military technologies, enabled the research team to leverage its know how for wider titanium re-application to non military industry.