DNV, Ohio Declare War on Corrosion

Det Norske Veritas Research & Innovation (DNV), a world leader in corrosion, materials, and structural integrity, has committed to fund a second major faculty position within the Department of Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) at The Ohio State University to advance corrosion research.

A longstanding partner of The Ohio State University’s Fontana Corrosion Center, DNV knows that it is critical to encourage and support corrosion-specific research within the academy. Through initiatives like the designated chair and professorship, DNV is partnering with Ohio State to make invaluable strides in the realm of corrosion exploration. The DNV-Roger W. Staehle Professorship will enable the department and the Fontana Corrosion Center to recruit an elite faculty member in the area of corrosion science and engineering.

Since 2007, DNV has supported the DNV Designated Chair for the Study of Corrosion, a position that is held by Dr. Gerald Frankel, professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Distinguished University Scholar, and director of the Fontana Corrosion Center.

“Combating corrosion is important to increase the safety and sustainability of engineered systems,” said DNV Vice President Narasi Sridhar. “On behalf of DNV, I am delighted to support the DNV Chair and DNV-Roger W. Staehle Designated Professorship at the Fontana Corrosion Center, one of the premier and historically important centers for corrosion research and education in the world.”

DNV Columbus has become a leading center for applied corrosion research and engineering, specifically with regards to its focus on the energy industry. Their extensive and cutting-edge efforts include the development of test techniques and predictive methods for stress corrosion cracking, and internal corrosion of oil and gas pipelines. Other research areas include corrosion fatigue testing of offshore oil and gas industry equipment. DNV Columbus is also a leading consulting, risk assessment, and failure analysis group in corrosion and materials.

Dr. Roger Staehle, for whom the new professorship is named, is an Ohio State metallurgical engineering alumnus and founder of the Fontana Corrosion Center. Elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 1978, he is among the world’s top experts in corrosion science and technology, especially pertaining to nuclear power.

“It is an honor to associate DNV with Professor Staehle in naming the designated professorship,” Sridhar added. “We look forward to continued collaboration with the faculty and students at the College of Engineering for many years to come.”

Within the national and international materials science community, corrosion is a critical area of study because of the staggering economic drain it imposes on local, state, and national governments. Professor Rudy Buchheit, MSE department chair at Ohio State and assistant director of the Fontana Corrosion Center said, “Studies show losses due to corrosion top 3 percent of the U.S. GDP, so we are pleased to be able to make a faculty recruitment in an area of science and engineering that directly addresses an economic issue of this magnitude.”

Along with helping Ohio State combat corrosion’s negative economic effects, DNV also supports the Department of Materials Science and Engineering by providing job opportunities to new graduates and internships to current students. This summer, two students from the welding engineering program are learning and working at the company’s Dublin location as interns. DNV also hired three 2013 MSE graduates for their DNV Columbus office.