Using Today“s Technology to Help Preserve USS Constitution

In order to retain as much of the USS Constitution's remaining original material as possible, and at the same time preserve the ship's hull form and structural integrity for the future, the Navy has conducted numerous inspections and engineering studies over the past decade. While much of this work has involved visual inspections, test borings, mechanical testing, classical naval architecture calculations, and research into past shipbuilding practices, a commeasurate amount of effort has also been directed at using today's technology to maximum advantage. This paper discusses: 1) inspecting the ship's fasteners using ultrasonic testing, 2) inspecting the ship's wooden structure using three nondestructive test methods, 3) analyzing ship deflections and general stress levels using finite element modeling on a computer, and 4) investigating the use of fiber reinforced composites to strengthen the ship.