Structural Design of Ships
SCOPE
Contents
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Introduction
Basic concepts
Wave Loading
Other Loads
Structural synthesis
Longitudinal strength
Superstructure and deckhouse design
Main Transverse blkd
Secondary Structure
Reliability and Optimisation
Special structure and structural design
Fatigue and Fracture mechanics
Vibration
The BIGss
picture
Flow in Structural Design Process
Key Loads
Equivalent Modes of Failure
Gross Structural Form
External
Internal
Develop a
Structural
Configuration
Modify the configuration
to achieve Desired
Results
Analyse the model
against Design
Criteria
Create a
Model
Aim of Structural design
Cost
Efficient
Design
Cost
Effective
Construction
Maintenance
Reliable and
Maintainable
Solution
Weight
Space/
Volume
Aim for simpler structures that cheapest in long
term, even if they are not lightest in weight
Evolution of Design
Factors to be considered in design process:
1. Varied structural configuration
2. Materials
3. Possible solutions for vulnerability and
struc. Survivability
4. Design constraints: avoid stress conc.,
provide adequate load paths
Synthesis, Analysis & Optimisation
Synthesis
Analysis
Optimization
Development
of system
from
components.
Compatibility
b/w
omponents,
loads & inservice
functions
Proof that
synthesized
system will
provide
required
functions with
acceptable
reliability
under service
loading
System as
analyzed is
most efficient
and economic
(functionwise)
Take away
Light
structure
Slight heavy
structure
Conventional ships not weight critical
Cost of materials for primary structure
for 1-2% for a frigate
Not applicable for weight sensitive vessels such as SWATH or Surface SES
Historical figures and data
Overview / Understanding of Design Process :
1950s & 1960s :
Buckling Strength of components in ship structures Elasto-plastic
Fatigue aspects of design untouched : 23 25 years ship life
Brittle Fracture : Problem of Steel Quality & Welded Structure
Till 1970s Wave Loading by Static Balance : L/20 (m) or 1.14L(ft)
Factor of Safety 2.5
Buckling : Classical Methods Elastic Euler buckling
Mid 1970s : Wave Bending Moment using Rigid Body Dynamics
Statistical representation of a Seaway
Ultimate Collapse Strength of Ship Hull
Finite Element Method for Elastic Analysis
Computing Power available with Designers
Basic Concepts Analogy to BEAM
L ~ 7B
L ~ 11 D
Basic Concepts Analogy to BEAM
PURE BENDING
Cross Section plane
remains perpendicular to
axis of bending
Shear effect neglected
* Scissor
Ship as Simple Beam
Hull as flanged beam bending about neutral axis
Arrangement separates trans. and long. Structure
Effective for estimating first order bending response about both
short axes
Though, diff beam idealizations required for both arrangements
Continuity of box sections=> Ignore shear effects not shear loads
(initial assumptions)
Effective Structure
Superstructural block always takes some bending load, but
due to shear effects=> plane sections do not remain plane
Rules of simple bending not strictly valid
Decks, longt. bulkheads, deep long stiffeners effective as a part
of hull girder if their extension is greater than 10%
Torsion: Possible to estimate torsional effects but warping in
large deck opening: accuracy doubtful
Loads
Type of Structural Loading
Longitudinal
Loads
Transverse
Loads
Cyclic Loads
Concentrated
Loads
Combined
Loads
Explosive
Loads
Longitudinal loading
Static
Difference b/w
weight and
buoyancy at each
section Gives rise
to resultant SF and
BM distribution
Dynamic
Longitudinal loading - Dynamic
Static
Dynamic
Wave Action
worst case:
encounter wave
length=ship length
Dominant wave
frequency ~
natural frequency
of hull girder
Hull vibration by
impulsive loading
due to slamming of
hull onto water
surface
Rare !! Hull vibration
high
Keyword Quasi Static
Photograph of a dynamic
wave
Transverse Loads
Hydrostatic and dynamic pressures
Ships equipment and variable load in vertical
transverse plane
Loads: Static/ Static + Cyclic Probabilistic in nature
For practical design purpose: consider all as static, lack of
knowledge of true loading
Except pressure variation induced by propellers
But dynamic effects need to be taken into account when
proposing load/strength margins
Transverse Loads
Forces on sides symmetric minimum
variation due to wave condition
FH << Fdue to buoyancy wt variation
I along D = BD3 / 12
B ~ 2D
So I along B = 8 times I along D
Therefore More Rigid
Cyclic Effects of Ship Life
Fatigue damage over a period of time
Necessary to define the expected life of a structure:
subject to cyclic loading
Defined by number of wave encounters
7-8 seconds mean wave period
25 yr design, 30% likely at sea (8 sec w.p.)
3x107 wave encounters: used for recent tests in warships
Lifetime defn of wave encounters: math modeling =>
extrapolating from strain measurements, load with a
given probability of exceedance in the specified no. of
wave enc.
Concentrated Loads
Imposed by heavy items of
equipment
Warships: operation of
weapon systems
Static + superimposed cyclic
component from inertial
effects of motion
Weapon loads: impulsive:
recoil of gun
Effects of heavy loads:
aircraft landing/parking
Explosive Loads
Due to explosions
Extensive distortion of
plating and stiffening: large
amplitudes and velocities
Underwater attack:
amplitudes of overall hull
vibration: sufficient to break
back
Classification of Structure
Primary:
Hull as beam: shell, principal decks,
main transverse bulkheads,
superstructure
Secondary:
Stiffened panels and grillages bounded
by decks, bulkheads, shells
Tertiary:
Panels of plates bounded by stiffeners or
elements of stiffeners
Simplification: breakdown analysis of each
component independently of others
Classification of Stresses
Primary: Due to bending, shear,
torsion in main hull girder
Secondary: In stiffened grillage due to
bending and membrane effects
Tertiary: Membrane stresses in panels b/w
stiffeners
Useful to calculate stresses at each level
separately, superimpose for complete solution
Load Transmission
Load from longitudinaltransverse stiff.
Load from transverselongitudinal stiff.
Then transferred to grillage boundary: very stiff in the
plane of load
Extent to which a structure can be broken down: relative
stiffness of adjacent comp, most reliable for large diff in
stiffness
Corollary: There must always be a structure to which load
must be transferred
Structures to be avoided: unsupported decks, bulkhead
edges, unsupported stiffener edges
Lack of structural continuity structural failure
Effective Breadth and width
Stiffeners deflect under loading; load
transferred into the plate by shear action
Plate deflects out of plane progressively
less than stiffener
Plane sections remain plane: strictly
invalid
Effect called Shear lag=> in plane stress
distribution
The whole plate doesnt bend, only a part of it
participates: effective breadth (be) with
constant stress level-used to calculate the
bending stiffness of plate-stiff combination
be: function of panel aspect ratio and
thickness, load distribution, panel flatness,
residual stresses
Remainder plate to have zero stresses
Effective Plating
For ships: all plating taken as effective when in
tension
Upper Deck in hogging
Keel in sagging
Compression: Effectiveness assumptions to be
made with care. Load approaches buckling
strength;
