Student Language Award 2023 for Bas Veltenaar after graduation research at Iv.

Graduate student Bas Veltenaar won the Student Steel Award 2023 during the annual Steel Construction Day at the AFAS Theater in Leusden. During his graduation internship at Iv, Bas developed an automated routine to optimally and efficiently perform steel sizing, dimensioning and testing of stiffened plate fields in a structure. Supervision was in the hands of Andries Kaptijn, Mechanical specialist at Iv.

The jury of the Student Steel Award called Bas' developed method "commendable work" that "contributes enormously to the sustainability of our living environment. The reason for this assignment is the fact that steel constructions for transformer platforms are getting bigger and bigger and thus gain more weight. This makes it necessary to save weight. Also so that existing ships can continue to perform installations and the weight has to fall below a certain limit. This can be achieved by slim and smart design and by eliminating failure mechanisms such as buckling of a (thin) stiffened plate. And that while the requirements of such a platform are very strict.

By using steel plates as a so-called stressed skin (a design where the walls are part of the supporting structure), large weight savings can be achieved. The jury believes that the structural application of such a stressed skin construction requires insight into complex mechanics.

With the development of automated routines and measurement systematics, aspects such as operation, cost and safety are taken into account and, in addition to material and time savings, considerable time is saved. Furthermore, the jury considers it a plus that this method is not only applicable in the offshore energy sector, but can also be used for other, complex steel constructions.

Iv is proud of Bas' work and pleased with the appreciation from the critical jury. We find it valuable that, in addition to providing smart, technical solutions, this allows us to contribute to accelerating the energy transition.

More information or questions? If so, please contact Rob van Elewout at [email protected] or call +31 (0)88-943 2168.