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Monday, August 16, 2004 |
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CUTTY SARK MAY BE SAVED BY UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH COMPUTER SCIENTISTS |
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Now, university researchers have devised a way of modelling all aspects of the proposed restoration on computer before work begins. The Department of Trade & Industry and the Cutty Sark Trust have backed the university with a £135,000 grant to fund a two-year project starting this summer. Professor Chris Bailey from the University of Greenwich, explains: “Until now, no- one has been able to predict what would happen when rotting wooden timbers are removed for preservation. Will the rusting iron hull of the ship fall down under the strain? In what order should planks be removed? How many at a time? What support will be needed to keep the rest of the corroded structure standing?” “Our models will allow us to test every possible option, and by answering these questions, we should be able to save the ship from collapse,” continues Professor Bailey. “Finally, we will be able to reveal the mystery of how this ship still stands up – and make sure that it continues doing so into the future.”
Richard Doughty, Director of the Cutty Sark Trust says: “The generosity of the DTi will fund a very important element of our conservation project, using the expertise of the University of Greenwich to minimize the risks to this precious craft. The computer models will offer an invaluable tool to help us interpret the ship – and avoid us making a costly mistake.” Professor Bailey’s research will also predict whether the fragile structure of the ship will be able to withstand the extra pressures it would be subjected to if the hull were flooded. Experiments are being carried out by Portsmouth Museum Service to find out if electrolysis in water may be effective in bringing out corrosive chemicals from the beams. As the ship has been in dry dock for many years, the effect of immersion is currently unknown – and may be disastrous if tried untested. The government’s Department of Trade & Industry is funding the university’s work with a grant from its Knowledge Transfer Partnership scheme, which allows businesses and other organisations to benefit from higher education research. An important aim of this project is to develop expertise that could be used by other heritage projects around the world. The Cutty Sark Trust intends to promote this specialist simulation technique as part of existing service to other threatened ships. Richard Doughty says: “The university’s leading edge technology brings another dimension to our trading company which has the potential to help us generate income to sustain the Cutty Sark for the future.” More pictures are available at www.gre.ac.uk/picturespecials/cuttysark
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