Finite Element Analysis of Longitudinal Bending Collapse of Container Ship Considering Bottom Local Loads

The purpose of this research is to clarify the effect of bottom local loads on the hull girder collapse behavior of large container ship (8000TEU class) A 1/2+1+1/2 hold model of container ship is analyzed using implicit finite element method. The results reveal two major causes of reduction of hull girder ultimate strength due to local loads. One is biaxial compressive stresses induced at outer bottom. Thus, smaller hogging moment can induce a collapse of bottom panels. The other is a reduction of effectiveness of inner bottom that is on the tension side of local bending. As a result, the container ship attains hull girder ultimate strength with smaller spread of collapse region compared to that under pure bending.