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CASE STUDY 05 Project: TYPE 26

FROM NOVEL CONCEPT TO GUARANTEED DELIVERY: ADVANCED MATERIAL COMPONENT DEVELOPMENT FOR MARINE PROJECT

For the defence company BAE BAE Systems was looking for a specific Systems Maritime - Naval Ships, partner who could bring significant structural renowned for their development of composite experience to develop the numerous vessels, the all structural design, as well as complement their new Type 26 Frigate was critical to in-house team with experienced professionals BAE Systems secured a fully their continued reputation and skilled in reducing the risk on the project and capable composite foremast business success. For the first time, ready to make important development at the behest of the Royal Navy, they decisions. design, with full structural were looking to develop a ship with This teamwork resulted in BAE Systems substantiation a major structural element securing a fully capable novel composite documentation to meet manufactured from composite foremast design with full structural materials. With a specific focus on Lloyds Register and MoD substantiation documentation to meet reducing the weight of the Lloyds Register and MoD requirements, as requirements, as well as superstructure, the development of well as avoiding costly and untimely mistakes the foremast was key to the project avoiding costly and untimely along the way. success. mistakes along the way.

www.cascade-engineering.co.uk CASE STUDY 05 - BAE SYSTEMS TYPE 26 FRIGATE STRATEGY EXPERTISE DELIVERED This was a challenging project. Combining our Naval Architectural and Marine Stage One: Review, modify and enhance the Engineering expertise with a deep composite design of the foremast, a understanding of the design drivers and four-storey octagonal structure, 8m square at issues affecting the design of the foremast base, that contains the combat mission systems, supports the main radar at the top structure, we were able to turn an outline and various communication systems design into a well-proportioned scantling externally. plan of decks, bulkhead panels and reinforcement. This could then be optimised Following Stage One design completion, we to pass all structural requirements at the optimised the structure against improved same time as being efficient with regard to load distributions based on further iterations using FE models and structural design. weight. Comprehensive, yet concise Weight is key to all superstructure and documentation was also critical to achieving optimisation of structural requirements Stage 3 and Manufacture: Following the prompt acceptance from the classification against minimal weight was paramount to detailed structural design, we worked society for the structure. ensure the mast remained within the limits alongside a specialist Norwegian marine Project success was also dependent on mandated within the BAE Systems & Navy composite manufacturer to ensure a smooth transition from design into production and skilled, capable project management. Like requirements. subsequent assembly onto the ship. many organisations, resources in BAE Stage 2: Our sector experience meant we Systems were stretched. We brought in not only accounted for the specific drivers As the first mast passed into production, it experienced team members to work within the superstructure, but also integrated met with some teething problems. Our team alongside the BAE Systems team, the design solution with the adjacent remained on hand throughout the initial concentrating on critical programme steelwork, as well as the radar, SATCOM & production process to help resolve early issues and answer questions, working elements with minimal supervision, while combat systems, mast top bulwarks and mast sponsons. directly with the suppliers at their Norwegian following BAE Systems methods and Lloyds yard to help keep the challenging timescales Rules (Special Service Craft). Naturally, for complete programme delivery on track. working alongside the BAE Systems team, we kept a close eye on budget and quality standards as part of the brief.

“Cascade Engineering built and maintained relationships with both our internal and external stakeholders, as well as with our third party supplier. This allowed everyone to gain confidence in our design and project delivery, which also helped everyone during very busy and fraught periods of working.“ Suzanne Currie, BAE Systems Project Manager & CAM - Type 26

www.cascade-engineering.co.uk CASE STUDY 05 - BAE SYSTEMS TYPE 26 FRIGATE HMS Queen Elizabeth Photo: Courtesy Royal Navy

COMPREHENSIVE CASCADE ENGINEERING EXPERIENCE HALLMARKS • Involved at the heart of development programmes. • Analysis of steelwork to Lloyds Rules • Completed specific features such as • Experience on Type 45 and for Naval Ships. yardarms, bridge wing and RAS Queen Elizabeth Class Carrier • Analysis of complete structural bulwarks, shaft bracket fairings, plus programmes. elements, such as the units, SATCOM sponsons and associated installation structures. • Providing integration between our comprising of decks, bulkheads, customer (the OEM) and its suppliers. equipment seats, penetrations and • Integration of mechanical systems, system supports. such as the radar, SATCOM • Ceaseless drive to streamline analysis & combat systems and life raft. approaches, utilising technology and data handling techniques to improve robustness and expedite any analysis to allow decision making. CASCADE • Optimisation against multiple design APPROACH drivers. • Start with concept solutions – • Ensuring teams work with the best current Naval Architecture, Stage 1 development. data. • Move to concept development – • Developing loading – ship motion and Marine Engineering, Stage 2 structural shock events, developing whole unit FE Assessments and refinement. models. • Move toward a final solution – Marine • Safety assessment, including – shock Engineering, Stage 3 assess manufacturing analysis, captivity of items, lightning strike, capabilities, production rate issues and etc. installation and assembly limitations. • Development of Means of Compliance • Preliminary and Critical Design Review strategies and evidence requirements. preparation, presentation to OEM, • Development of test plans, review of managing actions to progress beyond testing arrangements, test witnessing, review. results review, correlation of data and • Decide on clear route forward. models. • Naval Architecture and design experience/

capability. by Open Government Photo provided Licence. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 • Marine Engineering experience across a number of flagship programmes. Images courtesy of BAE Systems, unless otherwise attributed www.cascade-engineering.co.uk CASE STUDY 05 - BAE SYSTEMS TYPE 26 FRIGATE

Cascade Engineering +44 1252 594121 Building B [email protected] Riverside Way Camberley, GU15 3YL www.cascade-engineering.co.uk DEPENDABLE ENGINEERING, www.cascade-engineering.co.ukCERTIFIED SOLUTIONS Cascade Engineering is a trading name of Cascade AerospaceCASE Engineering STUDY 04 Limited. - PILATUS Reg. No. 05838778 PC-24