A supporting arrangement for a vessel for counteracting compressive loads
at an operating temperature. The supporting arrangement also provides
inertial stiffening of the hull of the vessel as well as acoustic and
vibration damping. The supporting arrangement includes a support
structure that is made from a shape memory alloy that contacts and
presses against the inner walls of the vessel. The supporting arrangement
utilizes the shape recovery properties and/or the internal energy
properties of the shape memory alloy support structure to provide
reinforcing and damping forces.