Two researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have been recognized for their advances in marine engineering. Zhili Feng and Jian Chen, scientists in the Materials Science and Technology Division, are set to receive the Elmer L. Hann Award at the upcoming Society of Naval Architects and Maritime Engineers (SNAME) Convention, reports the laboratory's news site. The convention, a gathering spotlighting prominent figures in marine engineering and naval architecture, will take place on October 15 in Norfolk, Virginia.
The pair earned this accolade for their paper, "Develop a Fast Analysis Solver for Welding Sequence Optimization," presented at last year's SNAME Maritime Convention. The paper details a software tool they created with colleagues from Ingalls Shipbuilding, aiming to minimize distortion in welded ship structures. As ORNL's reporting notes, this innovation has the potential to decrease not only the labor involved in straightening these parts but, also improve the accuracy of the components and cut down on subsequent rework and laborious downstream processes.
Both Feng and Chen have built notable careers at ORNL, which is managed by UT-Battelle for the Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Feng, a distinguished R&D staff member with more than 200 publications and nine patents to his credit, heads a multidisciplinary team undertaking both fundamental and applied research in material joining. Chen, a senior R&D staff member, has multiple patents and is credited with various research and technology innovations. Their work has garnered numerous accolades over the years, further cementing their reputations in the field.
The Society of Naval Architects and Maritime Engineers plays a key role in fostering the development of marine engineering and naval architecture through education, research, and collaboration. With more than twenty-five years of combined experience, the researchers are at the forefront of innovations poised to enhance efficiency and accuracy in the marine industry, describes the award announcement from ORNL's news release. The Office of Science, the primary backer of the laboratory's research, plays a critical role in addressing major contemporary scientific challenges. More information about their work can be found on their official website.
