Author Topic: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint & repairs/patches to the superstructure  (Read 31492 times)

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Offline pete cain

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #15 on: Feb 04, 2010, 07:58 PM »
Peter, I was witness to many QE2 deckhands 'painting' the Aluminium during the  let's call it dark hours, all they (seemed) to do was have a can of what appeared to be clear fluid  (in the tin) ,roller it around the affected area , & hey presto it came out white, no prep involved, I might add the same proceedure was applied to steel  handrails & etc, is that why all older ladies have layers & layers of 'clag'?. As a postcript to the transition joint   problems , well poor old QE2 as well as ORIANA (the leader in these in retrospect problems) were constructed over years & years in the open, no such luxury as covered construction halls  in them days , so, I guess condensation did have an affect. ( bet the shipwright got a friendly welder to warm the affected area  before Araldite was applied)
« Last Edit: Feb 04, 2010, 08:07 PM by pete cain »

Offline highlander0108

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #16 on: Feb 10, 2010, 01:39 AM »
There is also the problem that salt water really corrodes aluminium quite quickly, and the upper parts - especially in winter North Atlantic conditions - are going to spend a great deal of their time in a salt spray environment.

Actually, salt water does not corrode aluminum like you might think.  It oxidizes when left exposed and forms a protective coating.  There are alot of aluminum boats, particularily in the Pacific Northwest, in service with absolutely no paint whatsoever.  The problems arise with dissimilar metals, crevice corrosion, and electrolysis.  Here is a better explanation I found from a naval architect.
http://www.kastenmarine.com/aluminum.htm
It was clear that the aluminum plating on the boat deck was flexing, as it was designed to, as witnessed to all the patches at the stress points of windows, even with the corners rounded to minimize the built up stress.  In fact, I even saw cracks in several of the patches and repairs made over previous repairs. 
"There will never be another one like her" QE2's last Master Ian McNaught
My Blog:  http://qe2-prideoftheclyde.blogspot.com/

Offline Twynkle

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #17 on: Feb 26, 2010, 08:12 PM »
Apologies for the grainy images -
it was surprising to note that the base of the windows are set just inches above joint

https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/4389887995/sizes/l/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/4389887989/sizes/l/


Offline holynougat

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #18 on: Feb 26, 2010, 08:29 PM »
The ship carried a deck carpenter who was a certified Lloyds welder until she finished the transatlantic runs. (Welding aluminium is very difficult)

The Aluminium was very prone to cracking in bad weather and the superstructure is covered like a patch work quilt with doubling plate over welded cracks.

The steel hull however is built like nothing else and I never recall any problems with structural cracking in the hull, unlike modern cruise ships which crack all over the place

If they had chopped everything off above deck 2 with a gas axe then they could have rebuilt on the old hull and the ship would probably have lasted longer than a brand new one!




Offline highlander0108

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #19 on: Feb 27, 2010, 01:26 AM »
Apologies for the grainy images -
it was surprising to note that the base of the windows are set just inches above joint

https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/4389887995/sizes/l/in/photostream/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/watch_keeper/4389887989/sizes/l/



Rosie, are these your photos?  I have tried to view, but I get a message that these photos are private.
"There will never be another one like her" QE2's last Master Ian McNaught
My Blog:  http://qe2-prideoftheclyde.blogspot.com/

Offline Twynkle

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #20 on: Feb 27, 2010, 08:25 AM »
Ken
Many apologies!
They are mine - try these links and let me know if you can re-size them, too
as the double row of rivets are visible in the larger sizes!

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4389887989_6aaf94b982_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4036/4389887995_33f8dd6f0f_b.jpg

They are very hazy - QE2, Geiranger and failing camera wasn't easy!!
« Last Edit: Feb 27, 2010, 08:28 AM by Twynkle »

Offline highlander0108

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #21 on: Feb 27, 2010, 01:37 PM »
Here's a shot I took from the pier, starboard side, illustrating Holynougat's comments.  You can see the aluminum patch welded over the upper right corner of the window, obviously patching a crack at that stress point.  The aluminum cracked even though the windows have radiused corners to reduce this.  Next to the patch, you can see another crack has developed at the upper left corner of the patch, where it appears that the patch just transferred some of the loading to the plating beyond.  To the lower right of the patch, there is a ghosting of something round, possibly another repair job.  The aluminum/steel rivet joint is right below all of this with some minor rusting, but still looking good in outward appearance.  



The ships aluminum superstructure is full of repairs like this.  I just refer to them as beauty marks, scars of her many rough crossings! ;D
« Last Edit: Feb 27, 2010, 04:23 PM by highlander0108 »
"There will never be another one like her" QE2's last Master Ian McNaught
My Blog:  http://qe2-prideoftheclyde.blogspot.com/

Offline Andrew Collier

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #22 on: Feb 27, 2010, 03:31 PM »
Great photo!

it has always amazed me that despite being a bit of a mess close up, as this photo and many others show, the ship still looked amazing!

I can't think of another ship that would still look awesome if covered in patches like this one was, in some views when the light catches them they really stand out, but still the otherall effect isnt spoilt, what a design.... :-D
The Virtual Staff Captain

Online Isabelle Prondzynski

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #23 on: Feb 27, 2010, 05:06 PM »

I can't think of another ship that would still look awesome if covered in patches like this one was, in some views when the light catches them they really stand out, but still the otherall effect isnt spoilt, what a design.... :-D

I looked at the exterior of the Rotterdam this afternoon in the spitting rain and found much the same patchwork of patches in the superstructure. Which raises the question whether it too is of aluminium, something we had previously thought was not the case...

And certainly for QE2, I used to regard these patches as heightening her looks, much as the wrinkles on a elderly face often add a lot of interest to that face, all the signs of someone having lived to the full!

Online Peter Mugridge

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Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #24 on: Feb 28, 2010, 12:13 AM »
Isabelle, there is no indication of aluminium in Rotterdam ( 1959 ) from this:

http://www.shipmotions.nl/DUT/PapersReports/1166-PRADS-98.pdf

which incidentally makes brief mention of QE2 on page 8...
"It is a capital mistake to allow any mechanical object to realise that you are in a hurry!"

Offline highlander0108

Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #25 on: Feb 28, 2010, 01:22 PM »
Here's another interesting repair of a repair.  I believe this was taken on the starboard side, Queens Grill or lounge windows.
"There will never be another one like her" QE2's last Master Ian McNaught
My Blog:  http://qe2-prideoftheclyde.blogspot.com/

Online Rob Lightbody

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Re: Steel/Aluminium Transition Joint
« Reply #26 on: Feb 28, 2010, 05:09 PM »
Have a look at "Reltco" 's photo here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/33120597@N03/3451255013/ - its from 1972 and shows, i think, patches already present in the corner of the windows. 
Passionate about QE2's service life for 40 years and creator of this website.  I have worked in IT for 28 years and created my personal QE2 website in 1994.

Offline Twynkle

This is a great set, Rob!

If you go to the transition joint on this image (needs to be the original size - very large!!)
then up to the higher rectangular windows...
There's a 'strip' of metal 'stuck on' stretching along beneath them.
Is this a patch, do you think?
If so - it must have been one mighty long 'crack!
Now wondering what could have caused it - and are there other 'strengtheners' like this one?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/lightbody/1414248239/sizes/o/in/set-72157602100953447/

Offline Beardy Rich

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And to think that they make aircraft out of this stuff  :o :o :o
Rich Drayson. Ex Snr Mechanic QE2 1984-1988.

Online Bob C.

And to think that they make aircraft out of this stuff  :o :o :o

Yep, had one of those fatigue cracks in my helicopter in it's keel (which is overhead in a heli).  It was one big scary 4 inch long crack.  Fortunatley it was found before anyone went for the next flight. 

All metal fatigues and cracks but thanks to the inspections cycles on ships and aircraft, catastrophe very, very rarely occurs!
« Last Edit: Feb 28, 2010, 09:22 PM by Bob C. »