RESEARCH ON PROGRESSIVE COLLAPSE BEHAVIOUR OF SHIP STRUCTURES IN EXTREME SEAS

Research on the subjected loads and progressive collapse behaviour of ship structures has implications in ensuring the safety of navigating ships, making designs safer, and designing rational ship structures. In this research, the loads/motion analysis is performed using the three dimensional singularity distribution method based on potential theory. The obtained loads with time history are applied to the entire structural model. Progressive collapse analysis is performed by MSC.Marc considering geometrical and material nonlinear behaviours. The ultimate capacity of the ship structure is thus obtained. Assessments on structural safety can be conducted when the external loads and structural capacity are known. The degree of safety can be enhanced by increasing the plating thickness or stiffener size in the collapse region.