Structural Integrity Field

The structural integrity field (or SIF) is a shaped force field used on Federation starships to supplement the mechanical strength of the ship's hull. Without the SIF, a starship would not be able to withstand the tremendous accelerations involved with spaceflight. The SIF can also resist weapons fire to a significant degree.

The field strength is usually measured in percentages. A structural integrity reading of 100% means that the field is accepting a maximum load of the stresses presented to the structure, and that all physical architecture is safe from that stress. As the percentage approaches zero, this means that the hull itself is experiencing more and more of the stress of weapons, gravity and other phenomena rather than the force field. As the hull becomes damaged or breached, the SIF becomes less effective as the hull it was designed to hold together starts to disintegrate.