Transverse ultimate capacity of U-type stiffened panels for hatch covers used in ship cargo holds

ABSTRACT

Due to cargo loads or weather loads above decks and elastic deformations of the ship’s hull, hatch covers will subject to transverse loads. However, the existing formulas for transverse ultimate capacity evaluation are not applicable to U-type panels due to a higher rotation constraint. This paper is to find an accurate evaluation method of transverses ultimate capacity for U-type stiffened panels, in order to know about its true safety margin. One hundred and five U-type stiffened panels are designed to cover the common scope of plate aspect ratio α and plate slenderness ratio β in hatch cover structures. Based on the nonlinear FE calculations, the critical factors are analyzed, and then a simple formula is proposed, which can be used to predict transverse ultimate capacity. At last, it is proved that the U-type stiffener will have a great influence on the light-weight design compared with common stiffeners of open profile.

KEYWORDS:

• U-type stiffener
• transverse compression
• buckling strength
• ultimate capacity
• hatch cover

Acknowledgements

This project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 51809168 and grant number 51979163) and Young Teacher Initiation Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (17X100040060).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

ORCID

Gui-jie Shi http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7707-8821

Da-wei Gao http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6410-5619

Additional information

Funding

This project is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number51809168] and [grant number51979163] and Young Teacher Initiation Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University [grant number 17X100040060].