No fewer than nine submissions were received by the Kooy Prize Committee at the end of 2018. All of them graduation reports on research into a technique or technology relevant to defence and security. After 'careful consideration', the jury decided that Olivier Baas was the winner of the Kooy Prize 2019. Graduated from TU Delft (Faculty 3ME, Master Offshore Engineering) and TNO's 'Electronic Defence' department. "I want a difficult assignment," he assured his professor. And so he was allowed to research the non-linear magnetic behaviour of ferromagnetic ship steel. Fundamental research substantiated by experiments.

Olivier Baas conducted his research from March to November 2018 at TNO in collaboration with the Defence Materiel Organisation (DMO). Baas: "The purpose of this research is twofold. On the one hand, the study contributes to the development of a system to monitor cracking in steel structures using magnetic techniques, the CrackGuard.

On the other hand, the work is necessary for the development of so-called closed-loop degaussing for surface ships. It is an explicit wish of our Defence Materiel Organisation, DMO, to have such a system. Indeed, this system minimises the magnetic signature of these ships over a longer period of time. This is important to prevent magnetic detection of naval vessels by, for instance, sea mines. Thus, it is clear that this work has great military-operational relevance; especially in the context of the new frigates to be built."

Conventional versus closed-loop

The conventional degaussing system does not take into account non-linear effects that occur in the steel such as magnetic relaxation and ferromagnetic hysteresis. This means the system ignores the changing magnetic signature and, over time, will not be able to reduce this signature. The closed-loop system does incorporate these non-linear effects. However, this is only possible if the non-linear magnetic behaviour of steel can be characterised in such a way that it can be included in the calculation model. And it is precisely to this characterisation that Olivier Baas has made an important contribution.

"The effects of steel are poorly documented," Olivier Baas knows. "So I have done experiments myself; both experimental and numerical experiments (FEM) on ferromagnetic steels to be able to make a reliable model. I largely succeeded in that and eventually graduated with a 10, Cum Laude."

Honoured with the Kooy Prize

Winning the Kooy Prize was a further crowning achievement for Olivier Baas. "Initially, I had no idea that my supervisor at TNO had submitted the report. I only heard that after it was announced that I had won it. And fair is fair: I am genuinely honoured."

Unfortunately, Olivier was unable to receive the award himself during the Kooy Symposium in Stroe, as he was in the Far East at the time. In a video shown during the symposium, he indicated that his absence had to do with the development of a sensor to monitor cracking in steel structures. This development was partly based on his own research results. The prize was received in his place by his supervisors Prof.dr.ir. M.L. Kaminski (TU Delft), dr.ir. E.S.A.M. Lepelaars (TNO) and A.R.P.J. Vijn (TU Delft).

The jury consisted of Dr L. Koene (Board KIVI-DV and jury chairman, NLDA), Ing. L.F. Galle (Ministry of Defence, Materiel Directorate), Prof.dr.ir. P.H.A.J.M. van Gelder (TU Delft), Prof. dr. ir. F.E. van Vliet (TNO, University of Twente) and Prof. dr. ir. P.J. Oonincx (NLDA).

Background Kooy Prize

Prof. ir. dr. Johan M. J. Kooy lived from 1902 to 1983. An electrical engineer (Delft 1927) and mathematician and physicist (Leiden 1936), Prof Kooy taught generations of officers the fundamentals and techniques of what he himself called Ballistics of the Future.

During the years he taught a large number of 'engineering subjects' as lecturer and later professor at the Royal Military Academy, he managed to captivate many cadets of the technical arms and service branches with his lectures. In the process, he did not shy away from original ideas on propulsion, control and command and construction of rockets and satellites.

At the then Aerospace Engineering Department of Delft University of Technology, he gave lectures on these subjects for many years, which were also attended by students from other departments.

In an impressive series of publications and lectures, he succeeded in arousing interest in civil and military aerospace among many in society. Prof Kooy enjoyed international fame, was a member of several scientific organisations and was honoured for his work with national and international awards.

To put the "engineer" before the "doctor" in his titulature contradicts conventions. The order used is Prof Kooy's personal choice reportedly because for the engineer title he had had to work hard for five years and for the doctorate title he had only had to write one book....

The Defence & Security Department of the Royal Institute of Engineers established the Prof Ir Dr J.M.J. Kooy Fund in 1984. The fund aims to promote science and technology in the Netherlands, following or arising from defence-oriented functions and tasks. The fund supports the aim by awarding prizes (1000 Euro) for graduation work of exceptional quality.

Nominations

Nominations for the prize can be submitted to the Board of the KIVI Defence and Security Division via the website www.kivi.nl/dv every year until 31 December