For many years, the U.S. Navy fleet has experienced severe corrosion and erosion problems in copper nickel seawater piping systems. Since titanium is extremely resistant to corrosion and erosion, it has been viewed as a potential solution to these problems. However, certain concerns regarding shipboard use of titanium needed to be addressed: marine fouling, galvanic action with other metals, welding, system fabrication in a normal shipyard environment, testing, and life cycle costs. Over a three year period, Ingalls Shipbuilding division of Litton Industries and the Naval Surface Warfare Center, White Oak, worked with various commercial equipment suppliers to address these concerns. Partially because of the success of this project, it was decided to retrofit titanium systems aboard TARAWA Class LHAs and to specify same for the new LPD 17 Class ships.

Keywords:
piping design, Pipeline Corrosion, metals & mining, flowline corrosion, piping simulation, november 1997, shipyard, operation, Subsurface Corrosion, weld
Subjects:
Materials and corrosion, Pipelines, Flowlines and Risers, Piping design and simulation, Subsurface corrosion (tubing, casing, completion equipment, conductor), Well Integrity
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1997. The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers
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