Metallic Metamaterials for Reducing the Magnetic Signatures of Ships

Abstract

In this study, the magnetic signatures of ship structures were investigated. The magnetic signature impacts both navigation safety and the health of the marine ecosystem. Reducing this signature is essential for minimising risks associated with navigation and protecting marine biodiversity. A finite element model was developed to assess the magnetic signature of honeycomb sandwich panels for ship structures. A theoretical approach was proposed, and the predicted results were compared with the values obtained by the finite element analyses. Different types of structures were compared to evaluate the combined effect of materials and geometry on the magnetic signature. The finite element results and the theoretical predictions indicate that the use of metamaterial structures, consisting of honeycomb sandwich panels with a steel core and aluminium skins, produces a significant reduction of the ship magnetic signature compared to the one arising from a steel panel with the same bending stiffness.