Future Subsea (Norway)

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate how night work at low ambient temperatures affects cognitive performance (short-term memory and reaction time), skin- and core temperature, thermal comfort, sleepiness, and cortisol. We hypothesized that cognitive performance is reduced at night compared with daytime and worsened when exposed to low ambient temperatures.Method: Eleven male subjects were recruited to perform three tests in a climatic chamber at night and daytime: Night –2°C, Night 23°C and Day 23°C. Each test lasted 6 h. Cognitive performance (short-term memory and reaction time), skin- and core temperature, thermal sensation and comfort, cortisol levels and sleepiness were measured during the tests.Results: A lower mean skin temperature and corresponding lower thermal sensation were observed at Night –2°C compared to Day 23°C and Night 23°C. Night work caused increased sleepiness and lower cortisol levels, but was not affected by changes in ambient temperatures, thermal comfort, or skin temperatures. There was no effect of either day/night work nor ambient temperature on the short-term memory or reaction time test.Conclusion: Lower skin- and core temperature were observed at night when exposed to low ambient temperature (–2°C), but there was no effect on short-term memory or reaction time. Increased sleepiness and lower cortisol levels were observed at night compared to daytime and was not influenced by low ambient temperature at night. The result from this study suggests that cognitive performance (short-term memory and reaction time) is not adversely affected by night work when exposed to low ambient temperatures if adequate protective clothing is worn.

Abstract Strength of corroded marine structures is in the industry traditionally assessed using average thickness reduction together with the assumption of a uniform surface. In academia it is however realised that the surface texture will influence the strength where the effect of the irregular surface is considered through various parameters such as reduced material properties, roughness, geometrical ratios and thickness distributions. In this paper, the objective is to present a power spectrum which describes the corroded surface topography. Therefore, power spectra of surface and thickness are produced from 3D laser scan of real corroded mild steel specimens from a 30 year old ship using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The frequency distribution describes the spatial variability, wherefrom the autocorrelation function (ACF) is deduced. A log-log fit is made to the power spectrum, where the interception with the ordinate axis describes the corrosion severity. This way of describing the surface pattern of the corrosion deterioration may serve as input to novel ways of calculating corroded strength and fatigue initiation as well as simulation of corroded surfaces.

Abstract Bistable electrically addressed smectic A liquid crystal (LC) cells with 6.5″ diagonals have been prepared in monochrome and color. A process for converting the focal conic LC microstructure of filled cells into the homeotropic (transparent) texture is discussed. When driven to an opaque state, the LC scatters light, predominantly in a forward direction. This scattering of light allows for preparation of display modules with large viewing angles and excellent sunlight readability.